Nigeria’s push to overhaul its security architecture gathered momentum yesterday as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu transmitted the State Police Bill to the Senate.

The Senate will vote on the Bill today.

The House of Representatives passed an alteration to the Constitution, taking police from the Exclusive to the Concurrent list, paving the way for the establishment of state police.

The Green chamber voted 289 to one in endorsing the amendment.

Yesterday, the lawmakers simultaneously advanced plans to place security funding on a first-line charge of the federation.

The twin initiatives – state police and first-line funding for security – are designed to address worsening insecurity.

Tinubu, in a letter read on the Senate floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, forwarded the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) State Police Bill, 2026.

He urged lawmakers to expedite consideration of the legislation.

The proposed amendment seeks to create a constitutional framework for the establishment of state police services.

The move is widely seen as one of the most significant security reforms since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

The Senate returned from recess to attend to the issue.

Describing the proposal as central to his administration’s security strategy, Tinubu said the bill would provide a constitutional pathway for the creation of state police while incorporating safeguards to ensure effective operation of a dual policing structure.

"This bill seeks to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to create a constitutional pathway for the establishment of State Police services in Nigeria,” the President stated.

According to him, the legislation builds on extensive work already undertaken by both chambers of the National Assembly and is designed to address the country’s evolving security challenges.

“The proposed legislation is a critical component of our administration’s strategy to reorganise Nigeria’s security architecture to better protect our citizens, and I am confident that the Senate will act swiftly to consider and pass this bill,” Tinubu said.

Akpabio praised the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, for its work on the proposal and described the bill as “epoch-making”.

He said decentralised policing would make security more inclusive by bringing communities, youths, local governments and municipal authorities closer to security operations.

According to him, local communities possess critical intelligence that can help security agencies prevent crimes before they occur.

“As I have always said, every community knows the bad eggs within it. When you see faces that are not from your community, you know.

“Communities can alert the security services and help us become proactive instead of reacting after incidents have occurred,” he said.

Akpabio referred the bill to the Constitution Review Committee with a directive to submit its report today for immediate legislative action.

He also urged senators to attend the sitting, noting that constitutional amendments require the support of at least two-thirds of members.

Akpabio said: “We cannot do anything further on this matter today (yesterday).

“Therefore, the bill that has just been read is referred to the Committee on Constitution Review, which is to present its report tomorrow (today) for further legislative action.

“As soon as the report is presented, we will consider it at the Committee of the Whole and fast-track the process so that we can conclude legislative business before proceeding on recess after a year of intensive legislative work.”

Akpabio described the state police initiative as a historic step in Nigeria’s constitutional development.

The Senate President added: “Since 1960, Nigeria has not had the courage to decentralise policing. This is the first time we are taking that step.

“We will do it in phases, beginning with Constitution alteration. We must ensure there are adequate safeguards to prevent abuse.”

He stressed that the proposed state police structure must be designed to protect both serving and former public office holders from potential misuse.

“Even current governors who will one day leave office should not be afraid of the state police structure they helped create.

“That is why there will be many safeguards built into the system.

“If you are not here tomorrow, your constituents will know that you were absent.

“It is not enough to seek tickets and win elections. We must come to the chamber and contribute to the nation’s progress,” Akpabio said.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele echoed the appeal, describing state police as a national issue that transcends political parties, regions and sectional interests.

He said: “Based on the Constitution and the rules of the Senate, we require a minimum of two-thirds of senators to vote on constitutional alteration matters.”

He appealed to principal officers and senators across party lines to mobilise colleagues for the crucial vote.

“Those who are away, those travelling, those already airborne or on the road, should be contacted and encouraged to return. Let us all help to reach out to our colleagues,” he said.

The Senate adjourned plenary after Akpabio announced the death of a member of the House of Representatives representing Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State, Yaya Tongo, who passed on after a brief illness on June 12.

The Senate observed a minute’s silence in honour of the deceased lawmaker before adjourning till today.

While the Senate moved on the state police proposal, the House of Representatives said it was advancing a separate constitutional amendment to guarantee uninterrupted funding for security agencies.

Speaking at the Chatham House Africa Programme Roundtable in London, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu said the proposed amendment seeks to place security funding on a first-line charge of the Federation.

The amendment, listed among bills recommended for passage by the House Committee on Constitution Review, seeks to amend Section 81 of the Constitution to include the Armed Forces among institutions funded directly from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. (The Nation)

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