Senate Passes State Police Bill, Clears Way for Federal and State Police Services
Senate Passes State Police Bill, Clears Way for Federal and State Police Services
The Senate has passed a landmark constitutional amendment bill that paves the way for the establishment of state police services across Nigeria, marking a significant step toward decentralising the country’s policing system and strengthening internal security.
The legislation, transmitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, seeks to replace the existing Nigeria Police Force structure with a dual policing framework comprising the Federal Police Service and State Police Services. The reform is designed to improve security by allowing states to establish and manage their own police services while maintaining a strong federal policing institution.
Under the proposed framework, the Federal Police Service will retain responsibility for national security, terrorism, interstate crimes, organised criminal activities and policing within the Federal Capital Territory. State Police Services, on the other hand, will be responsible for maintaining public order, enforcing state laws and protecting lives and property within their respective states.
The bill also provides for the creation of State Police Service Commissions to oversee recruitment, promotions, discipline and administration of state police personnel. It outlines procedures for appointing state police commissioners while preserving constitutional oversight mechanisms to ensure accountability.
To address concerns that state police could be abused for political purposes, lawmakers incorporated several safeguards into the proposed law. These include judicial oversight, constitutional limitations on executive powers and provisions allowing temporary federal intervention in cases of serious security threats, operational failure or breakdown of public order.
The Senate considered the bill clause by clause before approving it during plenary presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The legislation now moves to the next stage of the constitutional amendment process, which includes ratification by at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly before it can become part of the Constitution.
Supporters of the reform argue that decentralised policing will improve intelligence gathering, enhance community policing and enable quicker responses to local security challenges such as banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and communal conflicts. However, some stakeholders continue to express concerns about possible political misuse of state police powers, making the constitutional safeguards a key aspect of the proposed legislation.
If eventually ratified and signed into law, the amendment will represent one of the most far-reaching reforms of Nigeria’s security architecture since the return to democratic governance, fundamentally changing the way policing is organised across the federation.
