Nigeria has moved a step closer to establishing state police following the Senate’s passage of the Constitution Alteration Bill aimed at decentralising policing, shifting the decisive stage of the process to the 36 state Houses of Assembly.
For the amendment to become law, at least 24 state legislatures must approve the proposal after both chambers of the National Assembly endorsed it.
The development marks a major milestone in a long-running national debate over policing and arrives amid growing concerns over insecurity, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes and organised crime across different parts of the country.
The Senate approved the legislation after securing the constitutionally required two-thirds majority through manual voting following technical problems with electronic voting devices.
The proposed amendment would create state-controlled police services alongside the existing Nigeria Police Force and empower governors to appoint Commissioners of Police for their states, subject to confirmation by state Houses of Assembly, while the Inspector-General of Police continues to oversee the Federal Police Service.