The Senate on Wednesday passed the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish state police across Nigeria, a major milestone in the country’s long-running efforts to decentralise policing and strengthen security at the sub-national level.
The legislation was approved after a clause-by-clause consideration by lawmakers and secured the support of more than two-thirds of senators through a manual voting process conducted during plenary.
Announcing the passage of the bill, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, described the development as a significant step toward addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
The bill was passed following the presentation of the report of the Senate Committee on the Review of the Constitution by Deputy Senate President and committee chairman, Barau Jibrin.
Before the final vote, senators sitting as the Committee of the Whole considered and adopted the bill’s provisions. Leading the debate, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, urged lawmakers to support the measure, describing it as a vital reform needed to improve internal security and enhance responses to local threats.
The proposed amendment creates a state policing system that will operate alongside the existing federal police structure, ending the Federal Government’s exclusive control over policing.
A key provision empowers state governors to appoint Commissioners of Police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by the state Houses of Assembly.
Clause 17 of the bill provides that while the Nigeria Police Force 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 defines the relationship between governors and state police commands. Under Section 17(6), governors may issue lawful written directives of a general policy nature to Commissioners of Police on matters relating to public safety and order within their states.
To prevent political misuse of the new policing framework, lawmakers incorporated safeguards to protect civil liberties and democratic rights.
Section 17(7) stipulates that a state Commissioner of Police shall not arrest, detain, investigate, or deploy force against any individual, political party, or group solely for criticising the government, except as permitted by law.
The provision is designed to ensure that state police formations are not used against political opponents, journalists, activists, or dissenting voices, while guaranteeing adherence to due process and existing legal safeguards.
The bill’s passage came shortly after the Senate abandoned plans to use an electronic voting system for the constitutional amendment process due to concerns over technical glitches that could affect participation and the credibility of the exercise.
Following a motion moved by Bamidele, lawmakers adopted a manual voting method. Akpabio supported the decision, arguing that an open voting process would ensure transparency and allow Nigerians to know the positions taken by their representatives on key constitutional matters.
Among those present during the historic session were the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani; the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun; the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Following the adoption of the voting procedure, senators were called individually to publicly declare their votes on the constitutional amendment bills.
The passage of the State Police Bill is regarded as one of the most significant constitutional reforms undertaken by the 10th National Assembly and could fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s security architecture if it receives the required approval from state Houses of Assembly and satisfies other constitutional requirements.
