Osun Assembly supports constitutional amendment for state police

The Osun State House of Assembly has backed the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to pave the way for the establishment of State Police Services across Nigeria.

The lawmakers’ position followed their consideration of the Bill transmitted to the state legislature by the National Assembly as part of the ongoing process to amend the 1999 Constitution and introduce state-controlled policing.

The proposal was considered during the Assembly’s plenary on Tuesday in Osogbo, after the communication from the National Assembly was read to the lawmakers by the Speaker, Adewale Egbedun.

Egbedun said the Bill had been circulated to State Houses of Assembly nationwide for consideration and approval, stressing that their participation was required to advance the constitutional amendment in line with the prescribed legislative process.

Contributing to the debate, lawmakers representing Ife-South, Ede-South, Obokun and Ife-Central constituencies, Lawrence Adeoti, Taofeek Olayiwola, Adewumi Adeyemi and Jeremiah Awoyeye, supported the proposed policing structure.

The lawmakers said the creation of state police would strengthen security at the grassroots by bringing policing closer to communities and enabling states to respond to security threats within their jurisdictions.

They maintained that a decentralised policing system would complement the existing security architecture and give states greater capacity to deploy personnel in response to local security challenges.

Following the debate, the Majority Leader, Babajide Kofoworola, moved a motion for the Assembly to support the constitutional amendment, which was seconded by Tajudeen Adeyemi.

The House also proceeded to consider amendments to the Osun State Park Management System Bill, 2026.