Support for Nigeria’s proposed state police system has gathered significant momentum after the Speakers of all 36 State Houses of Assembly, several governors, the Labour Party, and the Forum of APC Speakers endorsed the constitutional amendment passed by the Senate.
The development comes a day after the Senate approved the Constitution Alteration Bill, which seeks to establish state police as part of efforts to tackle insecurity and decentralise policing.
The bill must now secure approval from at least 24 of the 36 State Houses of Assembly before it can be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Strong backing from states and political groups
Governors and state legislatures across the country largely welcomed the proposal.
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia described the Senate’s action as a landmark reform, arguing that state police would better understand local communities and respond more effectively to security threats.
Several state assemblies, including Bayelsa, Plateau and Ondo, openly backed the proposal, while Kano, Gombe and Akwa Ibom said they would first study the bill, hold stakeholder consultations and conduct public hearings before taking final positions.
The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, led by Delta State Speaker Emomotimi Guwor, reaffirmed its earlier support, saying community-based policing would improve security because local challenges require local solutions.
The Forum of Progressive Speakers under the APC also pledged to facilitate ratification in APC-controlled assemblies while promising oversight to ensure professionalism, accountability and respect for human rights.
Labour Party endorses proposal
The Labour Party also backed the amendment, describing it as an important step towards improving Nigeria’s internal security.
Its National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, said the country’s centralised policing structure had struggled to address growing security challenges and argued that constitutional safeguards included in the bill would help prevent abuse by state governments.
The party urged governors and lawmakers across all states to approve the amendment in the interest of national security.
PRP rejects state police plan
The Peoples Redemption Party opposed the proposal, questioning the credibility of the Tinubu administration to oversee such a major restructuring.
National Chairman Hakeem Baba-Ahmed argued that the government lacked the public trust required for such a far-reaching reform and suggested the issue should be postponed until after the next general election.
Key safeguards in the bill
The proposed amendment creates a dual policing structure, allowing states to establish their own police services while the Nigeria Police Force retains responsibility for national security matters such as terrorism, cybercrime, border security and arms trafficking.
Among the safeguards included in the bill are:
State police cannot target individuals or groups simply for criticising governments.
The Federal Government may intervene where there is a breakdown of public order, human rights violations or threats to national security.
The National Police Council would be expanded to include representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association, Nigeria Labour Congress, National Human Rights Commission, Public Complaints Commission, state attorneys-general and retired senior police officers.
The enlarged council would coordinate national policing policies, improve cooperation between federal and state police services, recommend appointments and removals of police chiefs, and oversee policing institutions nationwide.
