(The National Assembly. Photo by Daily Trust)
Nigeria’s National Assembly transmitted the State Police Bill to the 36 state assemblies on Wednesday for consideration and approval.
The bill, which marks a major shift in Nigeria’s security structure, needs backing from at least two-thirds of the state assemblies to pass.
There is no constitutional deadline for the states to respond, though the assembly asked them to decide within 30 days.
The State Police Bill would replace Nigeria’s single national police force with a dual system comprising federal and state police.
The Federal Police would handle major crimes like terrorism, cybercrime and cross-border offences, while state police would manage local security.
The bill gives the president power to take over any state police force if public order breaks down or if the force abuses fundamental rights.
Such takeovers must be approved in writing and the affected governor and assembly notified within 48 hours.
This is the only bill passed by the National Assembly out of 37 proposed constitutional amendments.
The other 36 are still stalled, covering electoral reforms, judicial changes, local government autonomy and women’s representation.
These may not get through before the 10th National Assembly ends in June 2027, especially with 2027 elections underway.
Civil society groups have raised concerns about the bill’s speed and lack of transparency, particularly around its potential impact on elections and state-level security.