| Governors, Gbajabiamila present as 87 senators vote in support | At least 24 state legislatures must approve bill before presidential assent
In a historic move aimed at addressing Nigeria’s worsening security challenges, no fewer than 87 senators on Wednesday voted in support of a constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police across the federation.
The move aims to bring the country closer to a decentralised policing system for the first time since independence.
The passage of the State Police Bill marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s decades-long debate over devolving policing powers from the federal government to the states to strengthen security, improve intelligence gathering, and enhance local law enforcement.
The legislation scaled through after rigorous clause-by-clause consideration by the Senate sitting as the Committee of the Whole, following the presentation of a report by the Senate Committee on the Review of the Constitution, chaired by Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the passage of the bill after more than the constitutionally required two-thirds majority voted in support of the proposal.
The bill seeks to establish a dual policing structure comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services operating concurrently across the country.
A major provision of the legislation empowers state governors to appoint Commissioners of Police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by the State Houses of Assembly.
Under Clause 17 of the proposed constitutional amendment, while the Federal Police Service will continue to be headed by the Inspector-General of Police, each State Police Service will be led by a Commissioner of Police appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state legislature.
The legislation also provides for a working relationship between governors and state police authorities.
Section 17(6) empowers governors to issue lawful written directives of a general policy nature to Commissioners of Police on matters relating to public safety and public order within their states.
Senate Prescribes Safeguards Against Abuse
However, amid longstanding concerns that governors could misuse state police against political opponents, the Senate incorporated extensive safeguards to prevent abuse of the proposed security structure.
One of the key protections contained in the bill is Section 17(7), which expressly prohibits state police commissioners from arresting, detaining, investigating, or using force against any individual, political party, or group merely for criticising the government, except in accordance with the law.
The provision is intended to prevent the weaponisation of state police against opposition figures, journalists, activists and dissenting voices while ensuring adherence to due process and constitutional rights.
Leading debate on the bill, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the proposed amendment was carefully designed to balance local policing autonomy with national cohesion, accountability and constitutional oversight.
According to him, the Senate had adopted clear measures to constrain and prohibit governors from deploying state police for partisan, ethnic, religious, sectional or personal purposes.
Bamidele explained that the proposed constitutional framework empowers the National Assembly to prescribe minimum national standards covering recruitment, training, vetting, promotions, discipline, use of force, firearms management, complaints procedures, accountability, data management and professional conduct.
He said the bill was intended to retain federal policing responsibilities while allowing states to establish their own police services.
“The bill seeks to balance local policing autonomy with national cohesion, accountability with operational effectiveness and federal oversight with state responsibility,” Bamidele said.
According to him, state police services will be responsible for enforcing state laws, maintaining public safety and public order, preventing and detecting crimes within their jurisdictions and protecting lives and property.
The Senate Leader added that the Federal Police Service would continue to handle counter-terrorism operations, organised crime, cybercrime, border security, arms trafficking, interstate criminal activities and the protection of federal institutions.
Federal Intervention Limited
Bamidele also clarified the circumstances under which the federal government may intervene in state police operations.
He said such intervention would be permissible only in cases involving a breakdown of public order, operational incapacity of a state police service, serious violations of fundamental rights, electoral intimidation, or threats to national security.
According to him, any intervention must be authorised in writing by the President, limited in scope and duration, subjected to Senate oversight and remain open to judicial review.
“The bill provides robust safeguards against abuse, preserves federal authority where necessary, protects constitutional rights and creates a modern policing framework capable of addressing contemporary security challenges,” he stated.
A minmum of 24 out of 36 state houses of assembly must approve the bill before presidential assent.
The bill received broad bipartisan support during debate.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, disclosed that although he had previously opposed state police, worsening insecurity had convinced him that extraordinary measures were now necessary.
Abaribe, however, warned that the success of state police would depend largely on the provisions of the enabling legislation rather than constitutional amendments alone.
He cautioned against granting the President excessive powers to take over state police structures unilaterally and argued that any such intervention should require the National Assembly’s involvement.
The Abia South senator also raised concerns over funding, warning that without constitutionally guaranteed financing mechanisms, state police formations could become vulnerable to political manipulation and operational abuse.
Also, Senator Aminu Tambuwal reiterated his longstanding support for state police, describing it as a necessary step towards deepening federalism in Nigeria.
Tambuwal cited recent bandit attacks in Sokoto State that reportedly claimed dozens of lives, arguing that every legitimate effort to address insecurity should be embraced.
While endorsing the bill, he also stressed the need for safeguards to prevent future abuse by state authorities.
According to him, the Senate has a responsibility to support every initiative that can improve security while simultaneously protecting democratic principles.
Also contributing, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno described the legislation as long overdue.
He argued that several states already operate quasi-policing structures such as the Civilian Joint Task Force in Borno and the Amotekun Corps in the South-West, making the constitutional recognition of state police a logical progression.
According to him, the proposed reform would provide a legal framework, proper regulation and funding mechanisms for such security arrangements.
Akpabio Calls for Patriotism
Earlier, before the debate commenced, Senate President Akpabio urged lawmakers to approach the consideration of the bill with patriotism, open-mindedness and a sense of national responsibility.
He described the deliberations as one of the most significant constitutional exercises undertaken by the National Assembly.
“The decisions we take today have the potential to shape the future of policing, public safety and intergovernmental relations in Nigeria for generations to come,” Akpabio said.
“As representatives of the people, we are all aware of the security challenges confronting our nation. Citizens continue to look up to leaders and institutions for innovative, effective and sustainable solutions that will guarantee the safety of lives and property.”
The Senate President commended members of the Constitution Review Committee for what he described as over two years of painstaking work that culminated in the consideration of the bill.
Electronic Voting Abandoned
The passage of the legislation followed the Senate’s abandonment of plans to use its electronic voting system after technical difficulties during test runs.
Lawmakers subsequently adopted a manual voting process after concerns were raised that malfunctioning devices could disenfranchise some senators.
The decision followed a motion moved by Bamidele and endorsed by Akpabio, who argued that the alternative process would ensure transparency and full participation.
Several top government officials, including Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, witnessed the historic proceedings from the gallery.
Advocates of state policing have long argued that the country’s centrally controlled police structure is overstretched and unable to effectively tackle the growing challenges of banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, communal clashes and other forms of criminality across the country.
Critics, however, have consistently warned that governors could abuse state police to intimidate political opponents and suppress dissent.
With the Senate’s approval, the proposal has now cleared a major legislative hurdle, bringing Nigeria closer than ever to establishing state-controlled police services that operate alongside the federal police system.
