Reps approve State Police Bill as opposition members walk out over procedure

The Federal Government had already begun work on an implementation strategy through a committee established by the President to develop modalities for the proposed system

By Mmesoma Onwuka

The House of Representatives has again endorsed a constitutional amendment proposal seeking to establish state police, advancing a long-debated reform aimed at addressing Nigeria’s security challenges through a decentralised policing system.

The bill, which was transmitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu on July 14, secured approval during Thursday’s plenary session after lawmakers considered it at the Committee of the Whole stage under the leadership of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.

The latest approval followed a decision by the House to revisit the legislation after initially passing it on June 11. Lawmakers agreed that recent developments surrounding the proposal warranted a fresh review before final passage.

Presenting the motion for reconsideration, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, said the renewed examination was necessary to ensure the bill adequately reflects the country’s security realities and constitutional objectives.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who heads the House Committee on Constitution Review, described the proposed state police framework as one of the most significant constitutional reforms currently before the National Assembly.

According to Kalu, the initiative is designed to strengthen local security management by allowing policing structures to operate closer to the communities they serve. He noted that decentralising law enforcement would enhance intelligence gathering, improve response times and promote greater cooperation among security agencies at all levels of government.

The deputy speaker praised President Tinubu for championing the initiative, noting that the President had consistently advocated a policing system that gives subnational governments a more active role in maintaining law and order.

He clarified that the constitutional amendment only seeks to create the legal foundation for state police, while issues relating to recruitment procedures, training standards, accountability mechanisms and operational guidelines would be addressed through separate legislation and policy frameworks.

Kalu further revealed that the Federal Government had already begun work on an implementation strategy through a committee established by the President to develop modalities for the proposed system.

He urged lawmakers to support the measure, describing it as a crucial step toward strengthening national security and enhancing Nigeria’s federal governance structure.

Before debate commenced, Speaker Abbas disclosed that the proposal had garnered support from 311 lawmakers cutting across party lines, including members participating virtually.

Opposition Members Protest, Leave Chamber

Despite the eventual passage of the bill, proceedings were briefly overshadowed by protests from opposition lawmakers who raised concerns over the manner in which the legislation was considered.

The disagreement began when Minority Leader Fred Agbedi and other opposition members attempted to raise procedural issues before the House moved into detailed consideration of the bill.

Their efforts were unsuccessful, leading to growing dissatisfaction among members of the minority caucus.

Tensions escalated after the Speaker read selected portions of the bill and subsequently declared the remaining clauses adopted. Opposition lawmakers argued that several sections had not been individually considered or debated before adoption.

In protest, members of the opposition caucus walked out of the chamber.

The development introduced a new dimension to the debate over the state police proposal, despite widespread acknowledgment across party lines that Nigeria’s security situation requires urgent and innovative solutions.

Questions Raised Over Constitutional Procedure

Following the walkout, opposition lawmakers defended their action, insisting that their concerns centred on legislative procedure rather than opposition to the state police initiative itself.

Speaking on behalf of the minority caucus, Afam Ogene told journalists that constitutional amendment processes must strictly comply with both constitutional provisions and parliamentary rules.

He argued that attendance and voting records for constitutional amendments should be verified through officially documented registers rather than figures announced during plenary.

Ogene also expressed concern that lawmakers who had prepared amendments to portions of the bill were unable to present their proposals after the outstanding clauses were adopted without detailed consideration.

Similarly, Agbedi maintained that constitutional amendment bills require a transparent voting process that clearly records lawmakers’ positions.

According to him, reliance on voice votes for a constitutional amendment of such significance raises questions about how support can be independently verified.

He reiterated that the minority caucus remains supportive of efforts to establish state police but believes the process must fully comply with constitutional requirements.

“We support state police, but we must also protect the integrity of the legislative process,” Agbedi said.

Under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, any proposal seeking to amend the Constitution must obtain the support of at least two-thirds of members of both chambers of the National Assembly before it can proceed to the state Houses of Assembly for further consideration.

With the House’s approval secured, attention is expected to shift to the next stages of the constitutional amendment process, where the proposal will face further scrutiny as lawmakers continue efforts to reshape Nigeria’s security framework.