Minority caucus walks out as Reps pass state police bill

Nigeria's House of Representatives has passed a constitution alteration bill to establish state police forces, a significant step toward decentralizing law enforcement amid rising insecurity. The bill's passage, however, was met with immediate protest from the minority caucus, who staged a walkout during the plenary session.

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Our Standing Orders, the rules also in Order 13.15(a), and let me read it to your hearing: in the clause-by-clause consideration in Committee of the Whole, a clause or question shall be deemed passed if it be supported by a positive vote of two-thirds majority of members of the House.

The minority lawmakers objected to the manner in which the bill was considered and passed, arguing that it circumvented the required clause-by-clause consideration and voting procedures outlined in the House's Standing Orders. Minority Leader Fred Agbedi, representing PDP in Bayelsa, addressed journalists, clarifying that the caucus is not opposed to the concept of state police itself. Instead, their grievance lies with the perceived disregard for constitutional provisions and legislative rules during the bill's passage.

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Whatever is going to remedy the insecurity in this country, as a minority caucus, we are ready to support it. But any action taken by the parliament must follow due process.

Agbedi cited Order 13.15(a) of the House Standing Orders, which mandates a two-thirds majority vote for passing any clause or question during clause-by-clause consideration in the Committee of the Whole. He emphasized that the adopted procedure did not allow for individual member votes on specific provisions or the proposal of amendments. The minority leader noted that while the caucus had previously informed Speaker Abbas Tajudeen of desired amendments, the process did not accommodate these inputs. Agbedi stressed that the controversy stems from a commitment to upholding the integrity of the National Assembly and Nigeria's constitutional democracy, rather than a partisan disagreement.

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The controversy was not about a disagreement between the majority and minority parties but about protecting the integrity of the National Assembly and Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.