Tinubu sends state police proposal to Senate

President Bola Tinubu has sent a bill to the Senate for a constitutional amendment that will allow for the creation of state police in Nigeria.

The bill aims to change parts of the Constitution to set up a legal framework for state police.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio shared this news in a letter during an emergency session on Tuesday.

While he mentioned that the bill included various clauses, Mr Akpabio did not reveal the details. He only noted that the relevant parts were included in the proposed law.

In the letter, Mr Tinubu stated that his government is focused on reorganising Nigeria’s security setup to better protect lives and property.

He added that this new legislation would work alongside a similar state police bill that the House of Representatives approved earlier. This is part of efforts to tackle Nigeria’s increasing security issues.

“The bill builds on the significant work already done in this regard by the House of Representatives and the Senate, and incorporates additional safeguards to ensure that the creation of a dual policing structure to address our nation’s evolving national security challenges will be achieved quickly and effectively to the benefit of all Nigerians.

“The proposed legislation is a critical component of our administration’s strategy to reorganise Nigeria’s security architecture to better protect our citizens. And I’m confident that the Senate will act quickly to consider and pass this bill,” he said.

After reading the letter, Mr Akpabio sent the bill to the Senate Committee on Constitution Review for more discussion. He asked the committee to report back to the Senate on Wednesday for possible final approval.

On June 11, the Senate had already passed a separate bill for state police after most senators supported it during a session. That bill was set to go to a public hearing where people would share their opinions and concerns.

Now, with the president sending this new amendment bill, it is unclear if lawmakers will still hold a public hearing as is common before passing such laws.

Over the years, many state governments and civil society groups have called for local policing as cases of armed robbery, communal clashes, and other security problems have risen.

During former President Goodluck Jonathan's time, a National Conference took place where participants suggested creating state police to help reduce insecurity.

The rise of banditry, kidnappings, and terrorism has increased pressure from governors and political leaders to have state police.

In the absence of formal state police, some areas have set up informal security groups like Amotekun in the South-west, Ebube Agu in the South-east, and Hisbah in the North-west.

Despite the security issues, the idea of state police remains a controversial topic among politicians. Some believe that without proper guidelines, state police could be misused by governors to target political opponents, silence dissent, and restrict press freedom. Others argue that state police is the best way to tackle insecurity.

Recently, Senate President Godswill Akpabio mentioned that the proposed state police framework would include a National State Police Commission. This commission would oversee how state police operate, including recruitment, training, promotion, discipline, and conduct of officers.