The Senate has concluded plans to accelerate the passage of the proposed State Police Bill, with deliberations on the constitutional amendment expected to commence this week.
Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed the development in a statement issued by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, saying the National Assembly had resolved to separate the state police proposal from the broader constitutional amendment process in order to hasten its approval.
According to Bamidele, the move reflects the growing consensus among key stakeholders on the need to decentralise policing and strengthen internal security across the country.
He noted that President Bola Tinubu, state governors and members of the state legislatures are largely in support of the proposal, expressing optimism that the amendment would scale through the legislative process without delay.
The Senate leader said the bill would be transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for ratification immediately after its passage by the National Assembly, in line with constitutional requirements.
Bamidele described the current legislative week as crucial, stressing that the establishment of state police has become imperative in view of the persistent security challenges confronting the nation.
The proposed reform, if eventually enacted, would mark a significant shift from Nigeria’s centralized policing system and empower states to establish their own police services within a constitutional framework.
