Speakers of State Houses of Assembly have declared their support for the new state police bill.
This came just a day after the Senate passed the Constitution Alteration Bill, which aims to give states the power to run their own police forces to fight growing insecurity issues like kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism.
For this bill to officially become law, it must be approved by at least 24 of the 36 State Houses of Assembly before it goes to President Bola Tinubu for the final approval.
If the bill succeeds, it will create a two-part policing system. State governments will be allowed to run local police forces for day-to-day safety, while the federal Nigeria Police Force will still handle national issues like terrorism, cybercrime, and border security.
To help stop political abuse, the bill expands the National Police Council to include the President, state attorneys-general, and representatives from the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigeria Labour Congress, and the National Human Rights Commission to oversee how the police forces are run.
State lawmakers across the country are already moving to review the new bill. In Kano State, the House of Assembly immediately held a meeting with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to talk about what the law would mean for their state. Kamaluddeen Shawai, the spokesperson for the Kano Assembly, confirmed the meeting.
“We’re at the moment in a stakeholders meeting with the State Governor, Abba Yusuf.”
He added that the house would wait until after these talks to share its official position.
In Gombe State, Speaker Abubakar Luggerewo said his assembly views the bill as a good development but will still hold public hearings to make sure their local interests are safe.
“As soon as we receive communication from the National Assembly about the ratification of that bill, the House will receive and refer it to the committee led by the Deputy Speaker,” Luggerewo explained.
“From the committee stage, the House can be certain on the clauses of the bill. We will also look at our state’s peculiarities to be sure we are protected by the bill. If it suits our activities, we will go for it, but if we find in any way there are clauses we are not comfortable with, we will vote against it.”
Other state leaders shared different levels of readiness.
Akwa Ibom State Speaker Udeme Otong said his lawmakers need to see the physical bill and get feedback from the public before making any decisions.
On the other hand, Bayelsa State lawmakers said they are ready to pass it quickly. Brown Ebizi, the head of the Bayelsa Assembly’s information committee, stated, “We are in full support of the bill, and we believe that when it arrives in the state, we will work on it expeditiously. We are convinced that it is for the benefit of the state and the people.”
Speakers in Plateau and Ondo states also supported the reform, with Ondo Speaker Olamide Oladiji pointing out that regional security groups like Amotekun have worked well without being used as weapons against political opponents.
The bill also received backing from the Forum of Progressive Speakers under the APC and the broader Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures.
Haruna Dangyatin, the head of the APC speakers’ forum, called the Senate’s vote a big win for community governance. He promised that state assemblies would make sure the new police forces respect human rights and follow the law.
The Labour Party also gave its support. Labour Party spokesperson Ken Asogwa said, “The Labour Party commends the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, for its courage, swiftness and sense of patriotism in passing the State Police Bill recently transmitted to it by President Bola Tinubu.”
He acknowledged that some people worry governors might abuse state police, but noted, “The Labour Party is particularly encouraged by the constitutional safeguards embedded in the amendment bill, especially the provisions contained in section 17, which establish clear mechanisms to prevent abuse and ensure accountability in the operation of state police.”
However, the Peoples Redemption Party opposed the plan and told Nigerians to reject it. The party’s national chairman, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, argued that the current government does not have enough public trust to make such a big change to the country’s security system.
“The Peoples Redemption Party is deeply concerned over plans by President Tinubu’s administration to procure state police through constitutional amendment at a time when its credibility and competence are at an unprecedented low level in our democratic history,” Baba-Ahmed stated, adding that the decision should wait until after the next general elections.
