President Tinubu Forwards State Police Bill To Senate For Approval

President Bola Tinubu has formally transmitted to the Senate a Constitution Alteration Bill seeking the establishment of state police, marking a significant step toward the decentralisation of Nigeria's policing system.

The proposed legislation aims to amend relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal framework for the creation and operation of state-controlled police formations across the country.

The move is in line with President Tinubu's repeated calls for constitutional reforms that would grant state governments greater authority in addressing security challenges within their jurisdictions.

In February, the President urged the National Assembly to expedite constitutional amendments that would pave the way for state policing, arguing that the current centralised security structure has become inadequate in confronting the country's growing security threats.

Tinubu had described the proposed reform as a critical measure needed to tackle terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violent crimes that have persisted across several parts of the federation.

The push for state police has gained considerable momentum in recent months, with both chambers of the National Assembly advancing constitutional amendment processes aimed at devolving policing powers from the federal government to the states.

Supporters of the proposal have argued that state police would enhance intelligence gathering, improve community policing and enable quicker responses to local security challenges. However, critics have continued to express concerns over the potential abuse of state-controlled security agencies by governors and political actors.

Meanwhile, the Senate is expected to reconvene for an emergency plenary session to deliberate on the bill as lawmakers seek to advance what many observers consider one of the most far-reaching security reforms since Nigeria's return to democratic rule in 1999.

If passed by the National Assembly and subsequently endorsed by the required number of state Houses of Assembly, the legislation would fundamentally reshape Nigeria's security architecture by allowing states to establish and manage their own police forces alongside the existing federal police structure.