Nigeria moved a step closer to establishing state police on Wednesday as the Senate passed a constitutional amendment bill creating a state policing framework alongside the existing federal police structure.
The bill was approved after the Senate considered and adopted the report of its Committee on the Review of the Constitution, chaired by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin. Lawmakers subsequently examined the bill clause by clause in the Committee of the Whole before its final passage.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the passage of the bill after it secured the support of more than two-thirds of senators through a manual vote. Leading the debate, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, said the legislation would provide the legal framework for state police services to operate concurrently with the Nigeria Police Force.
Under the proposed law, the Inspector-General of Police would continue to head the Federal Police Service, while each state police service would be led by a Commissioner of Police appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State House of Assembly.
The bill also empowers governors to issue lawful written directives of a general policy nature to state police commissioners on matters relating to public safety and order.
However, it includes safeguards against abuse. A state police commissioner would be prohibited from arresting, detaining, investigating, or deploying force against any individual, political party, or group solely for criticising the government, except as permitted by law.
The provision is designed to prevent the misuse of state police powers and ensure that all actions are carried out in line with due process and existing legal frameworks.
