Senate Approves State Police Bill, Allows Governors to Appoint Police Chiefs

The Senate passed a bill on Wednesday to set up state police in Nigeria.

The upper chamber approved the bill after looking at the report from the Committee on the Review of the Constitution, led by Barau Jibrin, its chairman.

The senators discussed the bill’s details at the Committee of the Whole before finally passing it.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the bill's passage after more than two-thirds of the senators raised their hands in support through a manual voting process.

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, led the discussion on the bill before the lawmakers examined its different clauses.

This new law aims to create a state police system that will work alongside the current federal police.

Clause 17 of the bill focuses on how police commissioners are appointed, their command, direction, and tenure. It states that the Inspector-General of Police will lead the Federal Police Service. The State Police Service will be led by a Commissioner of Police, who will be appointed by the state governor and approved by the state’s House of Assembly.

Section 17(6) allows a state governor to give lawful written orders to the Commissioner of Police about public safety and order policies.

Section 17(7) states that the Commissioner of Police cannot arrest, hold, investigate, or use force against anyone, political party, or group for criticizing the government unless it follows the law. This part is meant to stop the state police from being misused against political rivals or critics, ensuring any actions taken are according to the law.