Nigeria's President Tinubu sends State Police Bill to National Assembly for swift passage

President Bola Tinubu has formally transmitted a proposed State Police Bill to Nigeria's National Assembly, initiating a significant overhaul of the nation's policing structure. The legislation seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution, creating a legal framework for the establishment of state police services across the federation.

This move is widely viewed as a direct response to Nigeria's escalating security challenges. In a letter read on the Senate floor, President Tinubu urged lawmakers to expedite the bill's consideration and passage, describing it as a critical component of his administration's strategy to enhance national security and citizen protection.

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This bill seeks to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to create a constitutional pathway for the establishment of State Police services in Nigeria

Senate President Godswill Akpabio assured the public that the bill would include robust safeguards to prevent the misuse of state police formations by governors and other political office holders. He stressed that accountability mechanisms would be central to the proposed framework.

However, the proposal faces significant hurdles. State governors are renewing their demands for substantial control over the appointment and operational processes of state police commands, citing federalism principles. Funding also remains a major point of contention, with proposals to allocate 3 percent of Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) revenues to state police operations drawing divided opinions, as some governors argue this amount is insufficient even for salaries. The Senate deferred debate on the bill to Wednesday, following the announcement of a House of Representatives member's death.

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Senate President Godswill Akpabio assured Nigerians that adequate safeguards would be incorporated into the bill to prevent state police formations from being misused by governors and other political office holders, stressing that accountability mechanisms would be central to the proposed framework.