Senators have defended the National Assembly’s decision to prioritise constitutional amendments on the establishment of state police, saying the country’s worsening insecurity makes the proposal an urgent national priority.
The lawmakers gave the clarification in response to concerns that the National Assembly appeared to be focusing more on state police than on other constitutional amendment proposals.
The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, in his reaction, said insecurity remained the foremost concern of Nigerians.
Bamidele, who spoke through his directorate of Media and Public Affairs, said this was why priority seemed to be given to state police.
The Senate leader, who is also the deputy chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, said the 10th National Assembly could not afford to downplay issues relating to state police.
This, he said, had even become necessary because the issue of state police was coming at a time when security challenges continued to threaten lives and property across the country.
Also, the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro (PDP-Benue South), dismissed suggestions that other constitutional amendment proposals had been abandoned.
Moro stated that the Constitution Review Committee had deliberately segmented the amendment process to fast-track urgent issues, particularly those related to state police.
“We’re looking in all the directions of constitutional amendments. We decided to segment the amendment process because if we wait for every item to be concluded before submitting them, this legislative cycle may pass.
Ali Ndume (APC-Borno South) equally said that security remained the primary responsibility of the government, making the establishment of state police a necessary constitutional reform.
Ndume, who chairs the Senate Committee on Army, said he had consistently advocated not only for state police but also for local government police to strengthen grassroots security.
(NAN)