Reps begin clause-by-clause review of Tinubu’s state police bill

The House of Representatives has begun consideration of President Bola Tinubu’s executive bill seeking to establish state police, signalling its readiness to adopt the version already passed by the Senate with only minor modifications.

The development marks a major step in the ongoing constitutional amendment process aimed at creating a multi-tier policing system to address Nigeria’s worsening security challenges, including banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and communal violence.

Speaking at the meeting of the House Committee on Constitution Review on Monday, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Benjamin Kalu, said members would undertake a clause-by-clause consideration of the executive bill, using the Senate-passed version as the committee’s primary working document.

He said the House was unlikely to depart significantly from the Senate’s work because both versions of the bill are substantially similar.

“The purpose of today’s meeting is to consider the executive bill clause by clause and make appropriate recommendations to the House. We must note that the Senate has already considered and adopted the bill with certain amendments, and copies of that version have been circulated to members. This document will serve as our working draft throughout this exercise.

“On the clause-by-clause consideration, the executive bill is substantially similar to what we have previously worked on, with only minor adjustments. Therefore, we do not anticipate any major departure from the work already undertaken,” Kalu said.

He disclosed that the Senate introduced about eight minor amendments, alongside new provisions on interpretation, transitional arrangements and implementation, all of which the House Committee would carefully review.

“You will see the introduction of Section 318 dealing with interpretation, as well as transitional and saving provisions to facilitate the implementation and operationalisation of the state police framework, together with other consequential amendments. The Senate also introduced about eight minor clauses with slight adjustments that are not too significant.

“So, as we proceed with this amendment process, we shall take into consideration the work already done by the Senate and adopt it where applicable,” he added.

Kalu recalled that before the National Assembly proceeded on recess, the House had passed its own Constitution Alteration Bill on State Police on June 11.

However, following the transmission of President Tinubu’s executive bill, lawmakers rescinded that decision on July 14 to pave the way for consideration of the President’s proposal.

“You may recall that on the June 11, before the recess, the House considered and passed the Police Constitution Alteration Bill. However, following the introduction of an executive bill by the President, that decision was reversed by the House on July 14, to enable consideration of the Executive Bill coming from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,” Kalu said.

According to him, the President, as Commander-in-Chief, is best placed to propose comprehensive constitutional reforms capable of addressing Nigeria’s complex security challenges.

He explained that the executive bill had already passed first and second readings in the House, while stakeholder engagements held during the National Assembly Open Week effectively satisfied the public hearing requirement.

The Deputy Speaker described the proposed legislation as one of President Tinubu’s signature constitutional reform initiatives, noting that the President had consistently advocated for decentralised policing long before assuming office.

“I must emphasise that the State Police Bill remains one of the signature constitutional reform initiatives of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu. As Governor of Lagos State, he was among the earliest advocates of multi-layered policing as a strategic solution to Nigeria’s security challenges. Today, as President, he is championing the same cause, demonstrating consistency between his convictions and his actions,” he added.

He noted that both the executive and legislature were united by the overriding national objective of improving security.

“As we have always argued, although we are three arms of government, we are one government. There is a national objective, and all we do is align ourselves with it, especially when that objective is in the best interest of Nigerians. Today, there is a national consensus that security must remain at the forefront of governance, and both the executive and the legislature are committed to achieving that objective,” he stated

Kalu noted that lawmakers convened on Monday outside the House’s traditional Tuesday legislative sitting because of the urgency attached to the bill.

“We are here today not because it is convenient for us. Our parliamentary week ordinarily begins on Tuesday, but duty calls, and time is of the essence. We are joining hands with the executive to ensure that this collaborative effort results in the successful passage of this priority constitutional amendment,” he stressed.

He also revealed that the Senate and House were working in close coordination to ensure the constitutional amendment is concluded without delay.

“Historically, the House and the Senate are working in tandem to ensure this significant constitutional amendment is achieved. I am confident that once it returns to the executive, it will receive expeditious assent,” he noted

The debate over the establishment of state police has remained one of Nigeria’s most contentious constitutional issues for more than two decades.

Supporters argue that the country’s centrally controlled policing structure has become overstretched and incapable of responding effectively to increasingly localised security threats across the federation. They contend that allowing states to establish and manage their own police services would improve intelligence gathering, response times and community policing.

Opponents, however, have expressed concerns that state police could be abused by governors for political purposes, particularly during elections and periods of political tension.

To address these concerns, the proposed constitutional amendments are expected to provide safeguards governing the establishment, funding, oversight and operations of state police formations.

If eventually passed by both chambers of the National Assembly, approved by at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly and assented to by President Tinubu, the legislation would represent one of the most far-reaching reforms of Nigeria’s policing system since the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999.