Senate To Accelerate State Police Bill

The Nigerian upper legislative chamber, the Senate, has hinted that it will this week consider a constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police in the country.

In a statement issued on Monday, the senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, through his directorate of media and public affairs, said the national assembly had resolved to separate the proposal from the broader constitutional amendment process to fast-track its passage.

The senate leader said there is a broad consensus among stakeholders on the need for state police.

He added that the bill could be transmitted to the 36 state houses of assembly immediately after its passage by the national assembly.

Bamidele said Nigerians across the country have expressed support for the establishment of state police.

“Our position is very clear on state police. We are standing with Nigerians on the issue of state police. All strata of the federation have made it clear that there cannot be a better time to establish a state police than now,” he said.

“That is where we stand. Where we are coming in is to now help translate this popular desire of the people into reality as elected representatives of the Nigerian people.”

The senate leader said lawmakers had resolved to ensure the proposal becomes law without unnecessary delay.

“We came to the conclusion that we are going to pass the constitutional amendment in this respect to make a provision for the state police,” he said.

“If I can tell you as of today, that will come to fruition this very week because there is no need to allow any further delay.

Bamidele said consultations involving the national assembly, the presidency, and security stakeholders had reached an advanced stage.

“There have been a series of meetings between the National Assembly. When I say the national assembly, I mean Chairman, Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Barau I. Jibrin and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, both of whom are representing the National Assembly,” he said.

“They had been in a series of meetings with the office of Attorney-General, Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tunji Disu and other stakeholders in the last one week and that is why I can sit here to tell you that we’re pursuing that this week.

“It is going to be the subject we will be dealing with this week. What we have resolved to do is to isolate it with the rest of the bills that we have proposed under constitutional amendment so that we can vote on this as soon as possible.”

Bamidele said President Bola Tinubu and state governors are in support of the establishment of state police.

“The bill can as well be on its way to the 36 States House of Assemblies as soon as possible because you know we will need two-third of the state assemblies to approve it before the president can assent to it,” he said.

“The president is also with us on this proposal. I am sure he cannot wait for the bill to come to him for assent. I am sure the majority of our governors as we know are in support of this bill.

“The state assemblies are also waiting for this bill to come. We will initiate the proposal for the creation of state police within the week.”

Section 214(1) of the 1999 Constitution currently provides for a single police force for the federation known as the Nigeria Police Force.

The latest development comes after the chief of staff to the president, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed that Tinubu would receive a comprehensive report on consultations surrounding the constitutional framework for the proposed creation of state police.