Thirty-three states’ Houses of Assembly have passed the State Police Bill after in-depth debates and perusal of its provisions by lawmakers.

Only three states – Abia, Kano, and Katsina – are yet to pass the proposed law.

This week, Bauchi, Jigawa, and Sokoto states passed the Bill for its return to the National Assembly for further legislative action.

In Bauchi State, the House of Assembly approved a proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for the establishment of State Police.

The resolution was presented by Deputy Speaker Jamilu Umaru Dahiru during yesterday’s plenary.

Dahiru, who is the interim chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendment, said the proposal was aimed at strengthening the country’s security system and addressing rising insecurity.

He said the establishment of state police would enable state governments to set up their police services to complement the existing federal security structure.

The deputy speaker noted that the proposal could provide additional support for efforts to tackle security challenges across the country.

The approval followed the consideration of recommendations on the proposed constitutional amendment transmitted to the house of Assembly from the National Assembly in line with the procedure for altering the 1999 Constitution.

The Nation reports that the resolution forms part of the process required for the proposed amendment to advance through the constitutionally prescribed stages. NigeriaNews Subscription

In Jigawa State, the House of Assembly yesterday endorsed the State Police Bill.

Speaker Haruna Aliyu Dangyatin said the proposed security arrangement would strengthen grassroots policing, tackle insecurity and create employment opportunities for youths.

Dangyatin said the establishment of state police would enable state governments to deploy personnel familiar with the security challenges, terrain and social dynamics of their communities to protect lives and property.

The Speaker said this after the Assembly had endorsed the Bill during plenary in Dutse.

He said the lawmakers’ decision followed extensive consideration of the proposed constitutional amendment and consultations with relevant stakeholders, including traditional rulers, civil society organisations (CSOs), and professional bodies.

According to him, the National Assembly transmitted the Constitution Amendment Bill to the 36 Houses of Assembly on September 23 for concurrence in line with constitutional requirements.

“We have done the needful and endorsed the State Police Bill because our people need security that is close to them,” Dangyatin said.

He described the existing centralised policing system as overstretched, arguing that a decentralised arrangement would enable security agencies to respond more effectively to local threats, particularly in rural communities.

“The Nigeria Police, as presently constituted, is overstretched. State Police will bring policing closer to the people and address our peculiar challenges,” he said.

The Speaker stated that the Assembly constituted a special ad hoc committee to examine the proposed amendments and engage stakeholders before reaching its decision.

He said the consultations showed widespread support for the proposed arrangement, which he said was intended to complement, rather than replace, the federal police.

"We engaged widely, and the message from our people is clear; they want State Police to complement the federal police,” he said.

Dangyatin added that the proposed system could provide jobs for qualified youths, particularly indigenes who understand the security situations in their respective communities.

He said the establishment of a State Police Service Commission would provide an institutional framework for the recruitment and administration of personnel.

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“Most of our teeming youths who are indigenes of the state will have the opportunity to be employed. Those who understand the security architecture of their localities can contribute meaningfully to maintaining peace and protecting lives and property,” he said.

The Speaker dismissed suggestions that the Assembly delayed its consideration of the Bill, explaining that the legislature was on recess when it received the proposed amendment.

He said the passage was initially scheduled for the previous week but was affected by his engagement as a director in the presidential campaign council, which required him to attend a meeting in Abuja.

Dangyatin said he was determined to preside personally over the session because of his longstanding interest in community policing and security matters.

The Speaker, who is also the National Vice-Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), described the endorsement as a significant milestone during his tenure.

“It is a matter of pride for me to preside over the session that passed the State Police Bill. I want history to record that during my tenure as Speaker, I chaired the session in which we voted for state police,” he said.

Also, the Sokoto State House of Assembly has unanimously adopted the Sixth Alteration Bill seeking to provide a constitutional framework for the establishment of state police services in Nigeria. NigerianNews Updates

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the adoption followed a motion moved by Deputy Majority Leader Mustapha Abdullahi (APC, Sokoto South II), during plenary in Sokoto on Tuesday.

Presenting the Bill, Abdullahi said it sought to amend the 1999 Constitution, as altered, to establish state police services while retaining the Nigeria Police Force as the federal police service.

He said the Bill was transmitted by the executive, considered by the Senate on June 24 and the House of Representatives on July 23, and presented to the Sokoto Assembly on September 22.

According to him, the proposed framework will delineate the responsibilities of federal and state police services to ensure effective policing and address security challenges across the country.

He explained that the federal police would handle interstate and international crimes, terrorism, cybercrime, border security, policing of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and protection of federal assets.

“Conversely, state police services would be responsible for law enforcement, maintenance of public order and safety, protection of lives and property, and investigation of local crimes.

“Therefore, the federal police and state police will function side-by-side in every state,” Abdullahi said.

The lawmaker added that the federal police could intervene in state policing matters at the request of a state governor or where there was a breakdown of law and order that the state police could not contain.

He said the head of a state police service would be called the State Commander of Police and appointed by the governor on the recommendation of the National Police Council, subject to confirmation by the State House of Assembly.

Abdullahi also explained that the bill proposed the establishment of a State Police Service Commission as an executive body responsible for the appointment, promotion and discipline of state police personnel, except the State Commander.

The lawmaker said the proposed framework would provide for the State Police Service Commission to receive funds directly from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund to ensure financial autonomy.

He added that the Nigeria Police Force would continue to operate in every state until the state’s police service commenced operations.

Abdullahi cited Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which provides that a constitutional alteration must be approved by resolutions of the Houses of Assembly of not less than two-thirds of all the states.

Contributing to the debate, several lawmakers supported the Bill, describing state policing as a necessary measure to address the security challenges confronting states across the country.

Speaker Tukur Bala put the motion to a voice vote, and the lawmakers unanimously adopted it. (Text, excluding headline: The Nation)