The 10th House of Representatives yesterday withdrew its proposed constitutional amendment Bill seeking to establish state police, opting instead to proceed with an Executive-sponsored version transmitted by President Bola Tinubu.
The decision marks a significant shift in the National Assembly’s approach to the long-debated issue of state policing, with lawmakers prioritising the Presidency’s proposal as the principal legislative framework for establishing state police across the country.
During plenary, the Executive-sponsored Bill successfully passed its first and second readings before being referred to the House Committee on Constitutional Review for detailed legislative scrutiny.
The move effectively places the House’s earlier proposal on hold, allowing the Executive-backed amendment to become the primary vehicle for pursuing constitutional changes on state policing.
The House Committee on Constitutional Review is expected to examine the Bill’s key provisions, receive stakeholder input where necessary, and recommend amendments before the legislation returns to the floor for further debate and consideration.
The move is seen as a major step in ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s policing structure amid persistent calls for decentralised security to tackle growing insecurity nationwide.
