Representatives to Vote on State Police Funding Thursday in Plenary Session

By Gift ChapiOdekina

The House of Representatives is stepping up its efforts to confront Nigeria’s escalating security problems by placing the creation of state police forces at the forefront of its constitutional amendment agenda.

House leaders, including zonal and state representatives, announced this priority in Abuja on the eve of a key vote on proposed constitutional changes. They expressed confidence that the long‑debated state police proposal would receive legislative approval and help strengthen security nationwide.

Deputy Speaker Rep. Benjamin Kalu, speaking on behalf of House leadership, noted that while the executive is chiefly responsible for protecting lives and property, the legislature must also exercise its constitutional mandate by using parliamentary tools to address the country’s security crisis.

Addressing journalists, Kalu said the House has consistently engaged security agencies, service chiefs, the Ministry of Finance, the Budget Office and other relevant bodies through its oversight functions. He added that legislative action has become essential to remedy structural gaps in Nigeria’s policing system.

He explained that the current constitutional framework, especially provisions that centralise policing, has proven inadequate in responding effectively to emerging security threats across the federation.

House leaders said there is now broad national consensus supporting state police, noting that key stakeholders—including the Inspector‑General of Police, governors and the executive branch—have voiced their endorsement of the proposal.

Kalu revealed that members of the House Committee on Constitution Review have been working extensively on amendments designed to establish a constitutional basis for state policing.

"Hope is coming. The hope of having better response time to incidents of crime is here," the lawmakers said, assuring Nigerians that the House is determined to advance the proposal despite reports of attempts to stall the initiative.

He reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture through constitutional reforms.

House leadership also expressed confidence that, once the proposed amendment passes the National Assembly, it will receive the backing of state governors and state Houses of Assembly, accelerating its transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

Kalu urged all House members currently engaged in oversight activities across the country to return to Abuja for the constitutional amendment vote.

Describing the nation’s security situation as an emergency, he called on lawmakers to suspend other engagements and participate in the session to demonstrate the legislature’s commitment to tackling insecurity.

"We want all our members to be in the House so that we can show our constituents that we are in support of state police and that security remains a priority on our agenda," they said.

The renewed push for state police comes amid growing calls from stakeholders for the decentralisation of Nigeria’s policing system to improve intelligence gathering, response time and overall security management at the grassroots level.

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