…As Akpabio rallies Senators for vote
By Seun Ibiyemi
President Bola Tinubu has formally transmitted an executive bill to the National Assembly seeking an amendment to the 1999 Constitution to establish state police services across Nigeria, in a move that could significantly alter the country’s security architecture.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend relevant constitutional provisions to create a comprehensive legal framework that would allow state governments to establish and operate their own police services alongside existing federal security structures.
The bill marks a major step in the President’s long-standing advocacy for decentralised policing, which he has repeatedly argued is necessary to address Nigeria’s persistent security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
Tinubu had earlier, in February, urged lawmakers to initiate constitutional amendments that would accommodate state police, describing the reform as critical to improving local security management and strengthening community-based law enforcement.
The proposal also aligns with the President’s recent Democracy Day address, during which he reiterated his administration’s determination to combat insurgency and dismantle criminal networks across the country.
According to the President, security forces eliminated more than 13,000 terrorists over the past year, contributing to a notable decline in security-related fatalities nationwide.
The transmission of the bill comes as both chambers of the National Assembly intensify efforts to review the Constitution, with growing support emerging for the decentralisation of policing powers.
Meanwhile, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has appealed to senators to ensure full attendance at Wednesday’s plenary session, describing the proposed constitutional amendment as one of the most consequential votes in Nigeria’s democratic history.
Speaking during an emergency Senate session on Tuesday, Akpabio said the State Police Bill could fundamentally reshape the nation’s security framework by bringing law enforcement closer to local communities.
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“Since 1960, Nigeria has not had the courage to decentralise policing, and this is the first time,” Akpabio said while urging lawmakers to treat the vote as a national responsibility.
He noted that the proposed amendment would establish the legal basis for state police services while incorporating safeguards against potential abuse through future legislation and regulatory oversight mechanisms.
According to the Senate President, the reform is intended to deepen community policing by integrating local governments, traditional rulers, youth organisations and other grassroots stakeholders into security management.
He argued that local communities possess valuable intelligence about criminal activities within their environments and that decentralised policing would enhance intelligence gathering, improve rapid response capabilities and strengthen public safety.
To accelerate legislative consideration of the proposal, Akpabio directed the Senate Committee on Constitution Review to submit its report by June 24, paving the way for immediate debate and possible action on the bill.
If approved by the National Assembly and ratified through the constitutional amendment process, the legislation would represent one of the most significant security reforms since Nigeria’s return to democratic governance in 1999.
