The House of Representatives has reaffirmed its determination to pass the proposed State Police Bill on Thursday as part of ongoing efforts to address Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, made the declaration on Wednesday while briefing members of the House of Representatives Press Corps in Abuja on behalf of the 37 caucus leaders in the Green Chamber.
Kalu said the constitutional amendment seeking the establishment of state police had become necessary in view of the growing incidents of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes across the country.
He noted that the National Assembly has a constitutional responsibility not only to oversee the activities of security agencies but also to enact laws capable of strengthening the nation’s security architecture.
According to him, the legislature must go beyond summoning service chiefs and security heads by deploying legislative instruments that can effectively address gaps within the existing security framework.
“When we say that the security of lives and property is the primary purpose of government, the legislature must also play its part. Beyond summoning service chiefs and relevant agencies, there is a need for us to deploy legislative tools to bridge the gaps in the nation’s security framework,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker disclosed that extensive consultations had already been conducted on the proposal, adding that the Inspector-General of Police, the executive arm of government and the 36 state governors had expressed support for the establishment of state police.
He argued that existing constitutional provisions, particularly Section 214 and related sections, do not sufficiently provide for the decentralised policing structure required to effectively combat insecurity and improve response to criminal activities.
“We have discovered that leaving the law as it is will not give us the expected results Nigerians desire. Therefore, we have prioritised constitutional amendments aimed at unbundling security-related challenges through legislation targeting state policing,” Kalu stated.
Dismissing reports that some interests were attempting to frustrate the initiative, the Deputy Speaker said members of the House remained united in their resolve to ensure the success of the amendment.
“We are here to announce to Nigerians that hope is coming. Hope for better response time to incidents of crime is here. By tomorrow, we will be voting on the constitutional amendment, and we are prioritising state police,” he said.
Kalu added: “We have read reports that some people are trying to stop it, but the Parliament is marching forward, and by tomorrow we will be concluding on this. Nobody is stopping us from moving ahead with state police.”
He expressed optimism that once approved by the National Assembly, the amendment would receive swift ratification from state legislatures, citing the positive disposition of governors across the federation toward the proposal.
“We are hopeful that after the exercise tomorrow, the amendment will be transmitted to the states, and judging by the body language of the 36 governors who support state police, they will work with their Houses of Assembly to ensure quick ratification before it is transmitted to Mr President for assent,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker also called on lawmakers currently engaged in oversight assignments across the country to return to Abuja ahead of Thursday’s plenary, describing the vote as a matter of urgent national importance.
“We want all members to be in the chamber tomorrow to demonstrate to Nigerians that security remains a top priority on our agenda and that the House stands firmly behind the establishment of state police,” Kalu said.
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