N’Assembly To Transmit State Police Bill To Tinubu For Assent Today

The National Assembly is set to transmit the State Police Bill to President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday for assent, following its approval by 29 of the 36 state Houses of Assembly.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, disclosed this on Wednesday while presiding over plenary, describing the development as a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to establish state police.

Kalu expressed excitement over the endorsement of the proposed constitutional amendment by more than two-thirds of the state legislatures, noting that the required approval had been secured for the next stage of the process.

He said, “The State Police Bill has received the backing of 29 State Assemblies. Later today, the Clerk to the National Assembly will transmit it to the President for assent.”

The approval by the state legislatures represents a major step towards decentralising the country’s policing structure and allowing state governments to establish and manage their own police forces alongside the Nigeria Police Force.

The proposed reform is aimed at addressing longstanding concerns over Nigeria’s centralised policing system, which critics have argued limits the ability of security agencies to respond effectively to local security challenges.

Under the proposed arrangement, state governments are expected to assume greater responsibility for maintaining law and order within their respective jurisdictions, while the Federal Government will retain its own police structure.

The initiative is also expected to strengthen security coordination and improve responses to crimes and other security threats at the grassroots level.

The transmission of the bill to President Tinubu for assent marks the next stage in the constitutional amendment process, following its approval by the National Assembly and the required number of state legislatures.

The development could pave the way for a major restructuring of Nigeria’s policing architecture if the bill receives presidential assent and the necessary constitutional procedures are completed.