The Senate has announced plans to consider amendments to the 1999 Constitution this week aimed at creating a legal framework for the establishment of state police in Nigeria, with indications that the proposal will later be forwarded to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for concurrence.
Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs.
He said stakeholders across the country have largely expressed support for the introduction of state policing, describing it as a necessary step in addressing the country’s security challenges.
According to him, the National Assembly has decided to separate the state police proposal from the broader constitutional amendment package in order to fast-track its passage.
“Our position is very clear on state police. We are standing with Nigerians on the issue of state police. All strata of the federation have made it clear that there cannot be a better time to establish a state police than now,” he said.
Bamidele added that both President Bola Tinubu and state governors are in support of the initiative, stressing that the current legislative week would be decisive for the proposal.
“We came to the conclusion that we are going to pass the constitutional amendment in this respect to make a provision for the state police. If I can tell you as of today, that will come to fruition this very week because there is no need to allow any further delay,” he said.
He further disclosed that consultations had been ongoing with key government officials, including the Office of the Attorney-General, the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Inspector-General of Police, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure smooth passage of the bill.
“They had been in a series of meetings with the office of Attorney-General, Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tunji Disu and other stakeholders in the last one week and that is why I can sit here to tell you that we’re pursuing that this week,” he added.
