State Police Bill Stalls as Most Assemblies Drag Feet

Nigeria’s attempt to establish state police is facing a fresh legislative hurdle, with only four state Houses of Assembly, Edo, Osun, Oyo and Rivers, reported to have approved the proposed constitutional amendment.

The National Assembly transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, Sixth Alteration Bill 2026, to the 36 state assemblies on September 16.

The proposal requires approval by at least two-thirds of the state legislatures before the constitutional amendment can move to the next stage.

That means at least 24 of the 36 assemblies must concur.

WHY THE DELAY MATTERS

State police has been promoted for years as a possible response to Nigeria’s security problems, particularly because policing remains heavily centralised under the Federal Government.

Supporters argue that state-controlled police would improve intelligence, local response and familiarity with communities.

Critics, however, have raised concerns about political interference, funding, abuse of power and the possibility of governors using state police against political opponents.,

ValidViewNetwork reports, the present obstacle is not simply whether state police is popular.

The immediate issue is whether enough state legislatures will complete the constitutional process.

Oyo joined Osun, Edo and Rivers after its assembly approved the bill on September 30.

Several other assemblies have either delayed consideration or were still processing the bill.

A CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS, NOT AN OVERNIGHT REFORM

Even if the required number of assemblies approve the proposal, state police would not suddenly become operational across Nigeria.

A constitutional amendment would still have to be completed, followed by legislation and institutional arrangements dealing with command, recruitment, funding, training, discipline and oversight.

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ValidViewNetwork reports, the debate therefore goes beyond establishing another layer of police. It concerns how Nigeria can decentralise security without replacing federal weaknesses with state-level political control.

The success of the reform will ultimately depend less on the slogan of state police than on the safeguards built around it.