State Police: Reps set to consider constitution review report today

House of Representatives is expected to take a major step towards establishing State Police Services in Nigeria during Thursday’s plenary, as lawmakers prepare to consider the Constitution Review Committee’s report on the proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution.

The report, which seeks to alter the Constitution to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and other related matters, was formally laid before the House during Wednesday’s plenary by the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Special Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review, Hon. Benjamin Kalu.

Ahead of Thursday’s consideration, Hon. Kalu invited members of the Constitution Review Committee to an emergency meeting in his conference room shortly after plenary, a move believed to be aimed at fine-tuning the committee’s position before the report comes up for debate and possible adoption by the House.

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The proposed legislation initiated by the Presidency is one of the most significant constitutional amendment bills before the 10th session of the National Assembly, as it seeks to decentralise policing by creating State Police Services alongside the existing federal policing structure.

The report follows extensive deliberations by the Constitution Review Committee, which earlier this week harmonised its position with the Senate’s version of the proposed State Police legislative framework.

After formally opening its meeting on Monday, the committee recessed into an executive session to review the Senate’s report and resolve outstanding issues regarding the proposed constitutional amendments.

With the report now before the House, lawmakers are expected to carry out clause-by-clause consideration of the Committee’s recommendations during Thursday’s plenary before deciding on the proposed constitutional amendment.

Further details are expected as proceedings unfold on the floor of the House.