Tinubu transmits State Police Constitution Alteration Bill to Senate

President Bola Tinubu has formally forwarded a constitutional amendment bill to the Senate seeking legal backing for the establishment of state police, signalling a fresh push to overhaul Nigeria’s security structure.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend sections of the 1999 Constitution to allow individual states to create and operate their own police organisations within a regulated framework.

Renewed calls for security decentralisation

The latest move comes against the backdrop of worsening security challenges in parts of the country and growing demands for a policing system that gives states greater control over internal security matters.

Tinubu has on several occasions argued that the current security arrangement requires restructuring to enable closer cooperation between the federal and state governments in tackling crime.

Earlier this year, the President urged lawmakers to support constitutional changes that would pave the way for state police, saying the measure was necessary to confront terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities.

Senate set for crucial debate

In his Democracy Day speech, Tinubu maintained that his administration remained committed to restoring peace and security across the country.

He said thousands of terrorists had been eliminated in the past year and pointed to a decline in terrorism-related deaths.

However, the President admitted that the continued abduction of schoolchildren in some parts of the country showed that more work must be done to improve security operations.

The bill arrives at a time when the National Assembly is considering broader constitutional reforms, including proposals aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s security framework.

Should the legislation secure the required support from lawmakers and state assemblies, governors would be empowered to establish police services tailored to their states’ security needs, subject to constitutional checks and oversight mechanisms.

Advocates of state police believe the system would improve intelligence gathering and ensure faster responses to local security threats.

Opponents, however, fear that state-controlled police formations could be exploited for political purposes.

The proposed legislation is expected to generate intense discussions in the Senate as lawmakers consider its impact on Nigeria’s federal structure and the future of security management in the country.