Senate passes historic State Police Bill, Govs to appoint police commissioners

The Senate on Wednesday passed the long-awaited Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish state police across the federation, marking a historic milestone in Nigeria’s decades-long quest to decentralise policing and strengthen internal security.

The landmark legislation scaled a major legislative hurdle after more than two-thirds of senators voted in support of the proposal through a manual voting process conducted during plenary.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the passage of the bill after lawmakers overwhelmingly endorsed the constitutional amendment.

The upper chamber approved the legislation following the presentation and consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on the Review of the Constitution by the Deputy Senate President and committee chairman, Barau Jibrin.

The bill was first examined at the Committee of the Whole before senators adopted its provisions and proceeded to a final vote.

Leading debate on the measure, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele urged lawmakers to support what he described as a critical reform aimed at enhancing security, improving response to local threats and addressing growing security challenges across the country.

If fully implemented, the legislation will establish a state policing framework operating alongside the existing federal police structure, ending the Federal Government’s exclusive control of policing.

One of the key provisions empowers state governors to appoint Commissioners of Police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by state Houses of Assembly.

Under Clause 17 of the proposed amendment, while the Federal Police Service will continue to be headed by the Inspector-General of Police, each State Police Service will be led by a Commissioner of Police appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state legislature.

The bill also defines the operational relationship between governors and state police commands.

Section 17(6) provides that governors may issue lawful written directives of a general policy nature to state Commissioners of Police on matters relating to public safety and public order.

To address longstanding concerns over possible abuse of state police by political office holders, lawmakers incorporated safeguards designed to protect civil liberties and political freedoms.

Section 17(7) stipulates that a state Commissioner of Police shall not arrest, detain, investigate or deploy force against any person, political party or group merely for criticising the government, except in accordance with the law.

The provision is intended to prevent the use of state police formations against political opponents, journalists, activists or dissenting voices and to ensure that all actions remain subject to due process.

The passage of the bill came barely an hour after the Senate abandoned plans to use an electronic voting system for consideration of the State Police Bill and other constitutional amendment proposals.

Lawmakers opted for manual voting after concerns emerged that technical glitches affecting some voting devices could disenfranchise senators and compromise the integrity of the exercise.

The decision followed a motion moved by Bamidele, who argued that every senator should have an equal opportunity to participate in the historic vote.

Akpabio supported the proposal, saying an open voting process would not only guarantee full participation but also promote transparency by allowing Nigerians to see where their representatives stood on key constitutional reforms.

Several senior government officials witnessed the proceedings, including Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Following the adoption of the motion, senators were called individually to publicly declare their votes on the constitutional amendment proposals.

The successful passage of the State Police Bill represents one of the most consequential constitutional reforms undertaken by the 10th National Assembly and could significantly reshape Nigeria’s security architecture if it secures the approval of state Houses of Assembly and satisfies other constitutional requirements.

Supporters of state policing have long argued that Nigeria’s centrally controlled police system is overstretched and ill-equipped to effectively tackle banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, communal violence and other security threats.

Critics, however, continue to express concerns that state police structures could be exploited by governors to intimidate opponents and suppress dissent.

With the Senate’s approval, Nigeria has moved a significant step closer to creating state-controlled police services that would operate alongside the federal police system, a reform many believe could redefine the country’s approach to security and law enforcement.