The Nigerian Senate has announced it will consider amendments to the 1999 Constitution this week to establish state police, driven by escalating terrorism and banditry across the country. Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele from Ekiti Central revealed this in a statement on Monday, June 8.
Senate Leader Outlines Legislative Process
According to Bamidele, after the Senate's deliberation, the proposal will be forwarded to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for further legislative action. In the statement issued by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, he emphasized that all stakeholders across the federation are aligned with the National Assembly on this issue.
Bamidele noted that the National Assembly plans to isolate this aspect from the ongoing constitution amendment process and pass it into law due to national urgency. He also disclosed that President Bola Tinubu and all state governors support the state police initiative.
Key Details from the Statement
The legislative week beginning Tuesday will be crucial for the Senate, with state police topping the agenda. Currently, Section 214(1) of the 1999 Constitution states: "There shall be a Police Force for Nigeria, which shall be known as the Nigeria Police Force."
Bamidele said: "Our position is very clear on state police. We are standing with Nigerians on the issue of state police. All strata of the federation have made it clear that there cannot be a better time to establish a state police than now. That is where we stand. Where we are coming in is to now help translate this popular desire of the people into reality as elected representatives of the Nigerian people."
He added: "We came to the conclusion that we are going to pass the constitutional amendment in this respect to make a provision for the state police. If I can tell you as of today, that will come to fruition this very week because there is no need to allow any further delay."
Stakeholder Consultations and Next Steps
Bamidele revealed that extensive meetings have taken place between the National Assembly, represented by Senator Barau I. Jibrin (Chairman, Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution) and Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu (Chairman, House Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution), and other key stakeholders including the Attorney-General, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, and Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu.
He stated: "It is going to be the subject we will be dealing with this week. What we have resolved to do is to isolate it with the rest of the bills that we have proposed under constitutional amendment so that we can vote on this as soon as possible."
The bill will require approval from two-thirds of the 36 state assemblies before the president can assent to it. Bamidele expressed confidence: "The president is also with us on this proposal. I am sure he cannot wait for the bill to come to him for assent. I am sure the majority of our governors, as we know, are in support of this bill. The state assemblies are also waiting for this bill to come. We will initiate the proposal for the creation of state police within the week."
Earlier, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila had disclosed that President Tinubu would receive a comprehensive report on the proposed state police as consultations on the constitutional framework near completion.
