The House of Representatives has commenced consideration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s executive bill seeking to establish state police as part of ongoing constitutional reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s internal security architecture.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Benjamin Kalu, said Monday in Abuja that the House may adopt the version of the bill already passed by the Senate, subject to minor adjustments where necessary.
Kalu recalled that the House had passed its own Constitution Alteration Bill on State Police on June 11 before lawmakers proceeded on recess.
However, the House rescinded that decision on July 14 following the transmission of the executive bill by President Tinubu to allow members to consider the president’s proposal.
He explained that the Executive Bill had already passed first and second readings in the House, while the broad stakeholder engagement held during the National Assembly Open Week effectively served as the required public hearing, satisfying the constitutional and legislative requirements for its consideration.
According to the Deputy Speaker, President Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, is best positioned to propose comprehensive legislation capable of addressing Nigeria’s prevailing security challenges, describing the State Police Bill as one of the President’s signature constitutional reform initiatives.
Kalu said the committee’s responsibility was to subject the bill to a thorough clause-by-clause review to ensure that it reflects the aspirations of Nigerians, stressing that every member of the Constitution Review Committee has a critical role to play in shaping the final legislation.
He further noted that although the executive, legislature and judiciary are separate arms of government, they remain united in pursuing national objectives, particularly the protection of lives and property, adding that security remains a top priority requiring collaboration across government.
The Deputy Speaker explained that lawmakers convened on Monday outside their normal parliamentary schedule because of the urgency attached to the legislation, saying the National Assembly was determined to work with the executive to fast-track the constitutional amendment process.
Kalu disclosed that the House would use the Senate-passed version of the Executive Bill as its primary working document, noting that the proposed legislation is substantially similar to previous drafts, with only limited modifications, including new interpretation, transitional and saving provisions.
He also revealed that the Senate introduced about eight minor amendments to the bill, which the House committee would carefully examine and adopt where appropriate, expressing confidence that the constitutional amendment would soon be concluded and transmitted to President Tinubu for expeditious assent.
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