The sponsor of the bill and Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, representing Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, who made this known in a post on his X handle on Tuesday said that establishment of State Police has become imperative and urgent given the recent security challenges confronting Nigeria and Nigerians.
A bill for establishment of the State Police across the 36 states of the federation on Tuesday passed second reading in the House of Representatives.
The sponsor of the bill and Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, representing Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, who made this known in a post on his X handle on Tuesday said that establishment of State Police has become imperative and urgent given the recent security challenges confronting Nigeria and Nigerians.
The lawmaker said, “Today, the bill for the alteration of the Constitution to provide for the establishment of State Police and Related Matters, sponsored by myself and some other colleagues, passed through the second reading in the House of Representatives.
“Given recent security challenges, establishing State Police has become not just necessary but urgent to empower states in addressing local issues.
“The bill, when enacted, will ensure that policing authority moves from the Exclusive to the Concurrent Legislative List, granting states control over policing. It also introduces a robust framework for coordination, accountability, and uniform standards between Federal and State Police, while implementing safeguards to prevent undue Federal interference.
“Additionally, it establishes distinct State Police Service Commissions, delineating their roles and jurisdictions.”
President Bola Tinubu, at a meeting with state governors on Thursday, had approved the constitution of a committee to explore the modalities for the establishment of state police.
The move for establishment of state police came up as the police is currently on the exclusive legislative list in the constitution, barring state governments from establishing state police.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio had, earlier this week, constituted a 45-member committee to further review the 1999 constitution. The panel would be inaugurated next Tuesday.
The Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Friday, said the Senate was ready to read the body language of Nigerians and come up with laws that would make lives meaningful to residents.
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