THE SENATE on Wednesday accelerated legislative action on a landmark constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police services across Nigeria, a move widely regarded as one of the most far-reaching security reforms proposed since the return to democratic rule.
The bill, titled: “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for State Police and Related Matters, 2026,” scaled its second reading before being swiftly subjected to clause-by-clause consideration by the Committee of the Whole and subsequently passed by the Senate.
The speed with which the proposal moved through the legislative process underscored the strong political backing it enjoys from both the executive and legislative arms of government.
Before debate commenced, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, successfully moved a motion to suspend Senate rules to facilitate accelerated consideration of the executive bill transmitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Senate also suspended its rules to admit state governors, attorneys-general, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and other senior government officials into the chamber to observe proceedings.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, described their presence as evidence of the importance attached to the proposed constitutional amendment and a demonstration of transparency in the legislative process.
Presenting the lead debate, Bamidele described the proposal as one of the most significant constitutional reforms in Nigeria’s democratic evolution, aimed at transforming the country’s existing centralised policing arrangement into a federal policing structure capable of responding more effectively to diverse security challenges across the federation.
According to him, Nigeria’s vast size, diverse socio-cultural realities and increasingly complex security threats – including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal conflicts, farmer-herder clashes, cybercrime and organised criminal networks – have placed enormous pressure on the current policing framework.
The proposed amendment would allow states to establish their own police services while maintaining a strong federal police structure. It provides for independent state police service commissions, national minimum policing standards, constitutional safeguards, accountability mechanisms, federal oversight in exceptional circumstances and protections for fundamental human rights.
Supporters of the bill argued that state police would improve community-based policing, strengthen local intelligence gathering and enhance rapid responses to security threats that often overwhelm federal law enforcement agencies.
The Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, chaired by Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, described the legislation as one of the most significant institutional reforms under consideration in the current constitutional review cycle.
According to the committee’s report, the bill seeks to move Nigeria from a unitary policing structure to a federal policing model while ensuring that state-created police services operate within nationally established standards and remain subject to constitutional safeguards and federal intervention under clearly defined circumstances.
Despite overwhelming support for the proposal, several lawmakers acknowledged concerns that have historically fuelled opposition to state police, particularly the possibility that state governors could deploy such forces for political purposes.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe noted that while Nigeria’s worsening security situation demands innovative solutions, lawmakers must ensure that adequate safeguards are embedded in the constitutional framework to prevent political interference and abuse.
He stressed the need for clear guarantees regarding funding, oversight and institutional independence to ensure that state police organisations remain professional, accountable and insulated from undue political influence.
Former Sokoto State governor and senator, Aminu Tambuwal, similarly endorsed the bill, describing state police as a critical step toward deepening federalism and addressing persistent security challenges.
However, he also urged legislators to strengthen constitutional protections against potential abuse by state authorities and to ensure that citizens’ rights are fully protected under the proposed arrangement.
Senator Mohammed Monguno supported the measure, arguing that the proliferation of various community security structures across the country already demonstrates the practical need for a formalised state policing system.
While advocates of the reform have focused on its potential security benefits, the accelerated pace of legislative consideration has inevitably drawn attention to broader political implications, particularly as Nigeria moves closer to another general election cycle.
Critics and political observers have long expressed concerns that state-controlled police forces could be vulnerable to manipulation by incumbent governors during electoral contests, potentially affecting opposition activities, political mobilisation and election security.
Although the bill contains provisions for independent state police commissions, national operational standards and federal oversight mechanisms, questions remain regarding the effectiveness of these safeguards in practice and whether they would be sufficient to prevent political misuse of state-controlled security institutions during periods of heightened political competition.
Supporters, however, contend that such concerns should not overshadow the urgent need to address Nigeria’s escalating security crisis. They argue that constitutional checks, judicial oversight and federal intervention powers embedded in the proposed framework provide adequate protections against abuse while enabling states to respond more effectively to local security threats.
Closing deliberations, Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed optimism that the proposed reform would contribute significantly to improving public safety.
“It is my prayer that Nigerians will become safer and that the challenges of kidnapping, banditry and terrorism will not only be minimised but reduced to the barest minimum,” he said, expressing confidence that Nigeria would ultimately overcome its security challenges.
With Senate approval secured, the proposed constitutional amendment now advances in the broader constitutional review process, setting the stage for what could become one of the most consequential debates over federalism, security governance and democratic accountability in contemporary Nigeria.
The coming stages of legislative scrutiny are expected to focus heavily on whether the safeguards contained in the bill are robust enough to prevent political abuse while delivering the security gains its proponents promise.
