President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially forwarded a Constitution Alteration Bill to the Senate, proposing the establishment of state police across Nigeria’s 36 states.
The landmark legislation, which seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution, aims to create a legal framework for state-controlled law enforcement as part of efforts to overhaul the nation’s struggling security architecture.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the bill’s receipt during Tuesday’s plenary, describing it as a “landmark initiative” that could revolutionize community policing and grassroots intelligence gathering.
“Residents are often best positioned to identify suspicious activities and criminal elements within their communities,” Akpabio stated. “State police would improve grassroots intelligence gathering and strengthen collaboration between local communities and security agencies.”
According to the Senate President, state governments have already signaled their readiness to act swiftly once the constitutional amendment process is completed.
The proposal, which Akpabio described as the culmination of nearly two years of consultations by the Constitution Review Committee, has been hailed as “epoch-making legislation that can significantly address insecurity.”
The Senate President directed the committee to resubmit its report on Wednesday for further legislative action, emphasizing the chamber’s commitment to expediting consideration before their annual recess.
However, deliberation was postponed after the announcement of the death of Hon. Yaya Tongo, who represented Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Senators observed a minute’s silence in honor of the late lawmaker, with Akpabio extending condolences to his family, constituents, and associates.
