Speakers' Conference praises state police bill, promises detailed review

Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, Dennis Guwor, has praised the National Assembly for passing the State Police Bill.

In a statement on Thursday in Asaba, Mr Guwor called this move a big step in the ongoing talks about policing, security, and true federalism in Nigeria.

Mr Guwor, who is also the speaker of the Delta House of Assembly, said that state legislatures have always backed community-based policing across Nigeria.

He believes that decentralised policing will improve security response and tackle specific issues in local areas.

“Nigerians deserve a policing structure that understands the local terrain and evolving security realities,” he stated.

He promised that state assemblies would carefully consider the bill as it moves through the constitutional amendment process.

The chairman added that the Conference of Speakers would talk with key stakeholders and hold public hearings when needed before making formal decisions.

Mr Guwor also thanked the Senate for pushing the proposal and urged everyone involved to keep up positive discussions on the reform.

He reaffirmed the conference’s dedication to working with important institutions to boost security and governance across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the Senate passed the Constitution Alteration Bill on Wednesday. This bill aims to decentralise policing by allowing states to create their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force.

The bill, called “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for State Police and Related Matters, 2026,” was approved after going through clause-by-clause checks.

The House of Representatives had already passed the bill on 11 June.

With both chambers of the National Assembly passing the bill, at least two-thirds (24) of the 36 State Houses of Assembly must support the bill before the president signs it into law.