THE Senate has passed a significant constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police services across Nigeria, marking a major milestone in ongoing efforts to reform the country’s security architecture.
With the passage of the legislation, Nigeria’s current policing framework would transition from a centrally controlled system to a dual structure comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.
The bill, introduced for consideration after Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, presented its general principles before the upper legislative chamber.
Following extensive deliberations, lawmakers subjected the proposal to a clause-by-clause review before it successfully scaled its second and third readings.
The amendment secured the support of more than two-thirds of senators, reflecting broad legislative backing for the proposed decentralization of policing responsibilities across the federation.
One of the most consequential provisions of the bill grants state governors the authority to appoint Commissioners of Police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by their State Houses of Assembly.
Under Clause 17 of the proposed amendment, “A State Police Service shall be headed by a Commissioner of Police of the State appointed by the Governor of the State on the recommendation of the National Police Council, subject to confirmation by the House of Assembly of the State and to such qualifications and national minimum standards as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly”.
Beyond appointments, the legislation also outlines the operational relationship between governors and state police commands.
Section 17(6) provides that “a governor may issue lawful written directives of a general policy nature to the Commissioner of Police on matters relating to the maintenance of public safety and public order within the state”.
In response to concerns that state police structures could be vulnerable to political manipulation, lawmakers incorporated several safeguards aimed at protecting democratic principles, civil liberties, and political freedoms.
Accordingly, Section 17(7) specifically states that “a state Commissioner of Police shall not arrest, detain, investigate or deploy force against any person, political party or group merely for criticizing the government except in accordance with the law”.
The provision is intended to ensure that state police formations are not deployed against political opponents, journalists, activists, or dissenting groups, while maintaining strict adherence to due process and established legal procedures.
The amendment further provides a framework for federal intervention in state security matters under clearly defined circumstances.
According to Section 214, “The Federal Police Service may temporarily intervene in the internal security affairs of a State and may, to the extent necessary, assume specified operational responsibility, including temporary operational command of a State Police Service or any part thereof, only where – (a) there is an actual or imminent breakdown of public order or public safety which the State Police Service is unable or unwilling to contain; (b) the Governor of the State requests federal intervention etc.
“An intervention under subsection (10) of this section shall be authorised in writing by the President and shall state the grounds, territory, functions and duration of the intervention; and notice of the intervention shall be given to the Governor of the State, the Speaker of the House of Assembly of the State, the National Police Council and the National Assembly within forty-eight hours of the start of any intervention. (13) No intervention under subsection (10) of this section shall continue bevond such period as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly unless approved by resolution of the Senate in the manner prescribed by that Act”.
The Senate’s approval comes just one day after President Bola Tinubu formally transmitted the bill to the National Assembly as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s security framework.
According to the President, the proposed amendment seeks to establish a legal foundation for a dual policing system that would allow states to operate their own police services alongside the federal police.
President Tinubu described the proposal as a critical element of ongoing efforts to modernise the nation’s policing structure, improve public safety, and provide better protection for citizens.
He further noted that communities, municipalities, and local government areas would play more active roles in maintaining security under the proposed arrangement.
The development represents a significant advancement in the Federal Government’s drive to establish a workable state policing framework, an idea that has received growing support from stakeholders who believe it could improve intelligence gathering, enhance local security responses, and strengthen public safety at the grassroots level.
Nigeria’s current policing system remains under the exclusive control of the Federal Government through the Nigeria Police Force.
However, persistent security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence, have intensified calls for a decentralised approach to policing.
President Tinubu has repeatedly maintained that state police have become necessary in addressing the country’s security concerns and has urged lawmakers to expedite consideration of related constitutional amendments.
Supporters of the initiative argue that state police would significantly improve local intelligence gathering, deepen community-based security efforts, and enable faster responses to criminal activities and emergencies.
Opponents, however, continue to express concerns about potential political interference by state governments, funding challenges, operational sustainability, and the possibility of heightening ethnic or communal tensions.
The renewed momentum behind state policing comes amid increasing public concern over insecurity and recurring incidents of mass abductions and violent attacks across several parts of the country.
With Senate approval secured, the proposed constitutional amendment moves a step closer to becoming one of the most significant security reforms in Nigeria’s democratic history.
