Senate has said it will this week consider amendments to the 1999 Constitution to provide for the establishment of state police as part of efforts to tackle rising insecurity across the country.
Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja through his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs.
Bamidele said the proposal, once passed by the National Assembly, would be transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for legislative approval in line with constitutional requirements.
He said growing concerns over terrorism, banditry and other security challenges had made the creation of state police an urgent national priority.
According to him, stakeholders across the federation, including the Federal Government, state governors and state assemblies, are largely in agreement on the need for state police.
“Our position is very clear on state police. We are standing with Nigerians on the issue of state police.
“All strata of the federation have made it clear that there cannot be a better time to establish a state police than now,” he said.
The senate leader explained that the National Assembly had resolved to separate the state police proposal from other constitutional amendment bills to fast-track its consideration and passage.
He said the legislative week commencing on Tuesday would be crucial, with deliberations on state police topping the Senate’s agenda.
“We came to the conclusion that we are going to pass the constitutional amendment in this respect to make a provision for the state police.
“If I can tell you as of today, that will come to fruition this very week because there is no need to allow any further delay,” he said.
Bamidele revealed that consultations had been ongoing among key stakeholders, including the National Assembly Constitution Review Committees, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Chief of Staff to the President, security agencies and other relevant institutions.
He said the discussions were aimed at ensuring a smooth legislative process and broad consensus on the constitutional framework for state police.
According to him, once approved by the National Assembly, the bill will be forwarded to state legislatures, where it must secure the support of at least two-thirds of the assemblies before being transmitted to the President for assent.
“The president is also with us on this proposal. I am sure he cannot wait for the bill to come to him for assent.
“I am sure the majority of our governors, as we know, are in support of this bill. The state assemblies are also waiting for this bill to come,” he said.
Section 214(1) of the 1999 Constitution currently provides for a single national police force known as the Nigeria Police Force.
The proposed amendment seeks to create a constitutional basis for state-controlled police formations to complement federal policing efforts.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, had earlier disclosed that President Bola Tinubu would soon receive a comprehensive report on the proposed establishment of state police as consultations near completion.
