Reps approve 18 clauses as they adopt state police
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The House of Representatives has adopted the report on the proposed establishment of state police and approved 18 constitutional amendment clauses.The report was adopted during Thursday’s plenary session presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. The approved clauses were part of recommendations considered by lawmakers during deliberations on constitutional amendments aimed at strengthening governance, security, and institutional effectiveness across the country.The House voted later on Thursday on the proposed creation of state police. The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to provide for the establishment of state police, and for related matters (Sixth Alteration) 2026,” is part of ongoing constitutional amendment proposals seeking to formally introduce state and community policing structures.The proposal has generated significant public debate in recent years. Supporters argue that decentralised policing would improve security responses and allow states to tackle local threats more effectively, while critics have raised concerns about potential abuse by state governments.In the House, the bill was jointly sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and 14 other members. Kalu, who chairs the House Committee on Constitution Review, told journalists that the chamber had resolved to prioritise the state police proposal over other constitutional amendment bills. He said the proposed amendment had become imperative given the rising cases of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes nationwide, stressing that the legislature must deploy constitutional and legislative instruments to address gaps in the country’s security framework.Last December, President Bola Tinubu expressed support for the creation of state police, describing it as a step that could enhance national security. The 360 members of the House were expected to participate in the voting process. The Speaker arrived in the chamber at 12:25 pm, and lawmakers commenced proceedings with the national anthem and opening prayers.At 1:07 pm, House Leader Julius Ihonvbere moved a motion for the House to suspend its rules and consider a motion for the rescission of its earlier decision on the presentation of the reports of the Committee on Constitution Review. The motion was seconded by Minority Leader Fred Agbedi. A total of 290 lawmakers were present at the commencement of the consideration.Speaker Abbas said the House was only considering the constitutional amendment bill relating to security due to the urgency surrounding the matter.”We are only picking one that pertains to security and it is for obvious reasons. We cannot continue to delay this consideration and that is why we are going to consider this. After that, we will embark on our end-of-year recess for two weeks. This will enable members to go and read the bills for consideration when we resume,” Abbas said.The deputy speaker presented and laid the report on the floor at 1:20 pm. The House then dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the state police bill. Abbas announced that the electronic voting system was not functioning, so the consideration would be conducted manually through a voice vote.Kalu said national security had become the House’s top priority, noting that lawmakers had been mobilised from their constituencies because of the urgency of the matter. He explained that the proposal had gone through all legislative stages, including a public hearing, and was now due for voting.According to Kalu, state police would improve response time to security incidents by decentralising policing authority currently concentrated in Abuja, and would allow communities to benefit from officers who understand local languages, geography, and culture. He urged lawmakers to support the proposal, describing it as a potential legacy reform that would strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture beyond military intervention.Abbas said the House would not proceed clause-by-clause but would instead consider the bill by its long title. He read out the long title, after which a manual count was conducted. A total of 289 members voted in support of the motion while four voted against it.The House reverted to plenary, and Abbas put the decision to a voice vote. The majority adopted the bill. Abbas announced that the House had passed the bill, with only one lawmaker abstaining.Ihonvbere then moved a motion for the document to be adopted as a working document, seconded by Agbedi. The Clerk of the House read the long title of the bill, after which it was read for the third time and passed by the House of Representatives.The post Reps approve 18 clauses as they adopt state police appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.
The House of Representatives has adopted the reportRead more at http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2026/6/reps-approve-18-clauses-as-they-adopt-state-police.html