Opposition lawmakers alleged breaches of the Constitution and the Standing Orders of the House.
Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s House of Representatives has passed the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police services, with 311 lawmakers voting in favour, surpassing the two-thirds majority required for constitutional alteration.
The vote marks a major step in the Federal Government’s efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture by introducing a dual policing structure consisting of a Federal Police Service and separate State Police Services.
Opposition Walks Out Over Procedure
Despite supporting the concept of state police, members of the opposition minority caucus staged a walkout during the session, alleging that the procedure adopted for the bill’s consideration violated constitutional provisions and the Standing Orders of the House.
The walkout was led by Minority Leader Fred Agbedi after the House conducted electronic and virtual voting on the amendment.
Following the session, opposition lawmakers addressed a press conference where they reiterated their support for state police but insisted that due process had not been fully observed during the passage of the bill.
Constitution Review Committee Defends Process
The constitutional amendment report was presented by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who chairs the House Committee on Constitution Review and urged members to support the proposal.
The process was defended by Babajimi Benson, Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, who maintained that the House acted within its constitutional powers.
The lower chamber also passed a separate bill establishing a Federal College of Fisheries Technology and Marine Engineering.
Senate Had Earlier Approved the Bill
The House approval comes four weeks after the Senate passed the same amendment, meaning both chambers of the National Assembly have now endorsed the proposal.
The legislation originated from President Bola Tinubu, who transmitted the bill to lawmakers as part of broader efforts to overhaul Nigeria’s policing framework and improve internal security.
According to the President, the amendment is intended to provide a legal basis for states to establish and operate their own police services while maintaining a federal police structure.
Governors to Appoint State Police Commissioners
A key provision of the bill empowers state governors to appoint commissioners of police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by the state Houses of Assembly.
The bill also outlines the operational relationship between governors and state police commands.
Under Section 17(6), a governor may issue lawful written directives of a general policy nature to the state Commissioner of Police on matters relating to public safety and public order within the state.
Safeguards Against Political Abuse
To address concerns that state police could be used for political intimidation, lawmakers included provisions aimed at protecting civil liberties and political freedoms.
Section 17(7) states that a state Commissioner of Police shall not arrest, detain, investigate or deploy force against any person, political party or group merely for criticising the government, except in accordance with the law.
The provision is intended to prevent the misuse of state police against political opponents, activists, journalists and other dissenting voices while ensuring compliance with due process and existing legal safeguards.
Next Step in Nigeria’s Security Reform
With passage by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, the amendment moves closer to becoming law, although constitutional alteration bills must still receive approval from a required number of state Houses of Assembly before final enactment.
If implemented, the state police framework is expected to strengthen grassroots intelligence gathering, improve response to local security threats and provide states with greater responsibility for maintaining public order.
