A bill to establish state police has passed a second reading in the House of Representatives.
The bill, sponsored by Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the House, and 14 others, proposes that the term “police” in the 1999 constitution be moved from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list.
The bill, which has 18 clauses, seeks to amend sections 34, 35, 39, 42, 84, 89, 129, 153, 197, 214, 215, and 216 of the Constitution.
In response to the country’s recent insecurity, the federal government formed a committee on February 15 to investigate the establishment of state police forces.
Muktar Shagaya of Kwara, who led the bill debate, stated that the proposed legislation “seeks to navigate the complex landscape of security challenges” by empowering states to “address issues unique to their localities”.
Shagaya added:
“This proposed alteration represents not just a legal adjustment to our grundnorm, but a visionary leap towards a safer, more secure, and harmonious Nigeria.”
Ahmed Jaha from Borno, who supports the bill, stated that the police, not the Nigerian Army, are responsible for providing internal security.
He asked his colleagues to set “sentiments aside” and support the bill.
Babajimi Benson from Lagos believes that the police should be licenced in the same way that universities are.
He said, “We should find a way of licensing the police so that any state that believes they have the funding and meet the conditions of the licence, they can be obliged.”
Aliyu Madaki from Kano said even though he opposed the bill during the previous assembly, it is now important to have state police.
“Our reasoning then was that state governors would abuse the state police. As we speak today, Nigeria is on fire,” he said.
The lawmaker stated that state police would allow each state to take charge of its security.
Sada Soli of Katsina spoke out against the bill, claiming that some states do not have the financial resources to support state police.
He stated that, while the bill is noble, it can also be used to persecute the opposition.
Following the lengthy debate, Kalu put the bill to a voice vote, and the ‘ayes’ had it.