The House of Representatives on Thursday approved the State Police Bill, a constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police services across Nigeria, despite a protest and walkout by members of the minority caucus over alleged procedural violations during its consideration. The bill secured the constitutionally required two-thirds majority and now moves closer to becoming law, subject to further constitutional requirements.
The proposed legislation, transmitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide the legal foundation for the creation of state police as part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture. If harmonised with the Senate version, approved by at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly and signed into law by the President, the amendment will formally establish State Police Services across the country.
Presenting the report of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu described the proposal as one of the most significant constitutional reforms in Nigeria’s security sector. According to him, decentralising policing would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community policing and enable state governments to respond more effectively to emerging security challenges.
Kalu noted that the constitutional amendment merely creates the legal framework for state police, while issues relating to recruitment, funding, operational standards, accountability and intergovernmental coordination would be addressed through subsequent legislation.
Proceedings turned rowdy during the Committee of the Whole after Speaker Tajudeen Abbas put the bill to a voice vote instead of conducting a clause-by-clause consideration and voting process. Before the vote, Abbas announced that 311 lawmakers supported the legislation, comprising members physically present in the chamber as well as lawmakers participating virtually.
Following the declaration that the “ayes” had prevailed, opposition lawmakers walked out of the chamber, insisting that constitutional amendment bills should undergo separate consideration and approval of each clause. The session briefly descended into disorder as the Speaker repeatedly used the gavel in an effort to restore calm.
Addressing journalists after the walkout, Minority Leader Frederick Agbedi and Minority Caucus spokesman Afam Ogene said they were not opposed to the establishment of state police but objected to what they described as a failure to follow constitutional and parliamentary procedures. The lawmakers argued that attendance should be determined through the official register signed by members and questioned the inclusion of lawmakers participating virtually in the voting process.
They also maintained that each clause of a constitutional amendment bill should be considered individually and approved by a two-thirds majority, rather than being adopted through a single voice vote. Agbedi said the caucus’s protest was intended to protect parliamentary integrity and ensure compliance with constitutional requirements.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker, the minority caucus reaffirmed its support for state police but urged the House leadership to recommit the bill for further legislative review.
The lawmakers argued that the current framework contains constitutional ambiguities, governance gaps, jurisdictional concerns and drafting inconsistencies that should be addressed before final passage. They also expressed concern over the financial implications of transferring policing responsibilities to state governments without corresponding fiscal adjustments.
According to the caucus, 15 per cent of the Federation Account allocation currently accruing to the Federal Government should be transferred to states to support the funding of state police. The lawmakers warned that devolving policing powers without providing adequate financial resources could create an unfunded constitutional mandate.
The minority caucus further recommended consultations with constitutional lawyers, security experts, fiscal authorities, state governments and other stakeholders before the legislation proceeds. Supporters of the State Police Bill argue that decentralised policing will improve responses to insecurity, including terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and communal violence.
However, critics continue to express concerns over possible political abuse by state governments and the financial capacity of many states to sustain independent police services. Although the House has approved the proposal, the constitutional amendment must still secure Senate concurrence, receive approval from at least 24 State Houses of Assembly and obtain presidential assent before becoming part of the Constitution.
