The House of Representatives has withdrawn its proposed constitutional amendment seeking the establishment of state police, opting instead to consider a similar Executive-backed bill transmitted by President Bola Tinubu.
The decision was announced during Tuesday’s plenary, where lawmakers gave the Executive-sponsored bill its first and second readings before referring it to the House Committee on Constitutional Review for further legislative work.
The move marks a significant shift in the National Assembly’s approach to state policing, with lawmakers choosing to consolidate legislative efforts around the Presidency’s proposal rather than pursuing separate amendments.
Executive bill takes priority
By stepping down its own proposal, the House has effectively placed the Executive’s version of the state police bill at the centre of ongoing constitutional amendment efforts.
Lawmakers said the decision would help streamline the legislative process and ensure that all key provisions relating to the creation and operation of state police are considered under a single framework.
The Executive-sponsored bill will now undergo detailed scrutiny at the committee stage before it is returned to the House for debate, possible amendments and final consideration.
Committee begins detailed review
Following its successful first and second readings, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Constitutional Review.
The committee is expected to examine the provisions of the proposed legislation, consult relevant stakeholders and recommend amendments where necessary before presenting its report to the House.
The review process is expected to focus on issues such as the structure, powers, funding, oversight and operational framework of state police, as well as safeguards to prevent abuse.
State police debate gathers momentum
The issue of state policing has remained one of the most debated constitutional reform proposals in Nigeria, with supporters arguing that decentralised policing would improve security and strengthen community-based law enforcement.
Advocates believe state police would enable quicker responses to local security threats and complement the operations of the Nigeria Police Force.
However, critics have expressed concerns that state-controlled police formations could be abused by political office holders if adequate constitutional safeguards are not put in place.
More legislative work ahead
The Executive-backed proposal is expected to undergo extensive legislative scrutiny before any final decision is reached.
Following the committee’s review, the bill will return to the House for clause-by-clause consideration and further debate before proceeding through the remaining stages of the constitutional amendment process.
Its eventual passage will also require approval by the Senate and endorsement by the required number of state Houses of Assembly before becoming part of the Constitution.