Senate Passes State Police Bill For Second Reading Amid Concerns Over Funding, Oversight

June 24 () — On Wednesday, the Senate passed the proposed Constitution Amendment Bill seeking the establishment of state police for second reading, marking a major milestone in efforts to decentralise policing and reform Nigeria’s security architecture amid worsening insecurity across the country.

The landmark legislation, an executive bill proposed by President Bola Tinubu and sponsored by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, seeks constitutional backing for state police services while retaining a strong federal policing structure with national standards, accountability mechanisms and safeguards against abuse.

Following extensive debate on the general principles of the bill, senators overwhelmingly supported the proposal, paving the way for its consideration by the Committee of the Whole for clause-by-clause scrutiny.

The Senate’s consideration of the bill attracted significant national attention, with several governors, attorneys-general, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and other senior government officials present in the chamber to observe proceedings after lawmakers suspended relevant Senate rules to admit them.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the presence of the high-profile officials underscored the importance of the proposed constitutional amendment and reflected the commitment of both the executive and legislative arms of government to addressing the country’s security challenges.

According to Akpabio, the state police proposal represents a response to growing calls for innovative and sustainable solutions to insecurity, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and communal violence.

Leading debate on the bill, Bamidele moved a motion for the suspension of Senate rules to accelerate consideration of the legislation and explained that the proposal seeks to establish state police while preserving a robust federal police structure.

He said the bill provides for independent state police service commissions, national minimum policing standards, federal intervention in exceptional circumstances and constitutional safeguards designed to protect citizens’ fundamental rights.

According to him, the establishment of state police would strengthen community policing, improve intelligence gathering and enhance the capacity of security agencies to respond promptly to security threats at the grassroots.

“The objective is to create a policing framework that is closer to the people while maintaining national standards and institutional safeguards”, Bamidele argued.

Despite broad support for the legislation, several lawmakers raised concerns about funding arrangements, oversight mechanisms and the possibility of abuse by state authorities.

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe disclosed that although he had previously opposed the establishment of state police, the country’s deteriorating security situation had convinced him that extraordinary measures were now necessary.

The senator representing Abia South stressed that the success of state police would depend not merely on constitutional amendments, but also on the provisions of the enabling legislation that would regulate its operations.

Abaribe warned against granting excessive powers to the President to unilaterally assume control of state police formations, arguing that any such intervention should require the involvement and approval of the National Assembly.

He also called for constitutional guarantees on funding and oversight to ensure that state police institutions remain professional, accountable and insulated from political manipulation. Without sustainable funding mechanisms, he cautioned, state police formations could become vulnerable to abuse and operational inefficiency.

Former Sokoto State Governor and Senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, also backed the bill, describing it as a critical step towards deepening federalism and addressing Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.

Tambuwal cited recent bandit attacks in Sokoto State that reportedly claimed dozens of lives and argued that every legitimate initiative capable of strengthening security should be embraced.

While endorsing the proposal, he stressed the importance of incorporating robust safeguards to prevent future abuse by state governments and protect citizens’ rights. According to him, lawmakers have a responsibility to support security reforms while simultaneously preserving democratic principles and constitutional protections.

Also contributing, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno described the legislation as long overdue. He noted that several states already operate quasi-policing structures and community-based security organisations, such as the Civilian Joint Task Force in Borno State and the Amotekun Corps in the South-West.

According to Monguno, the constitutional recognition of state police would provide a proper legal framework, clearer regulation and sustainable funding mechanisms for such security structures.

Proceedings, however, witnessed a dramatic twist when senators abandoned an earlier proposal for a manual roll-call vote that would have required each lawmaker to publicly declare his or her position on the bill.

Instead, Akpabio subjected the legislation to a voice vote after debate on its general principles.

A loud chorus of “Ayes” echoed through the chamber, after which the Senate President struck the gavel and declared the bill passed for second reading.

The decision sparked visible discontent among some lawmakers, with murmurs and protests breaking out across sections of the chamber.

At one point, Senator Garba Maidoki openly protested the procedure, shouting, “This is unfair!” amid dissatisfaction among senators who had expected a more transparent voting process.

Following the second reading, the Senate dissolved into the Committee of the Whole and immediately commenced clause-by-clause consideration of the bill.

Under the procedure being adopted, senators are required to stand and raise their hands in support of individual clauses, while those opposed remain seated.

The voting exercise is expected to determine the final form of the legislation and shape the safeguards that will accompany the proposed state police framework.