State police, miners’ deaths top agenda as N’Assembly resumes

File photo: The National Assembly

The proposed establishment of state police and the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State are expected to dominate proceedings as the National Assembly resumes plenary today (Tuesday).

The lawmakers are also expected to revisit ongoing constitutional and electoral reforms, while insecurity and other pressing national issues will form part of the legislative agenda.

Speaking on the Senate’s priorities for the resumption, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, told The PUNCH that lawmakers would focus on key national issues, including insecurity and broader economic challenges.

The spokesman stated that the constitutional amendment process, particularly the proposed state police, would receive attention.

He said, “Our priorities on resumption are about revisiting the constitutional amendments which we have put together. I am sure you are aware that we have sent the state police bill to the state Houses of Assembly and we are expecting its return. So, we are going to expand on that and look into it.”

The National Assembly had on September 16 transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, seeking to establish State Police Services, to the 36 state Houses of Assembly.

The transmission followed renewed calls for a decentralised policing structure amid persistent security challenges across the country.

However, the National Assembly last week clarified that the State Police Bill was the only constitutional amendment proposal so far transmitted to the state legislatures.

In a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the legislature said the remaining Constitution Alteration Bills would be transmitted after they had been passed in identical form by both chambers.

The clarification followed reports suggesting that all the proposed constitutional amendment bills had already been sent to the states.

The National Assembly said the decision to prioritise the State Police Bill was in response to widespread concerns over security and policing in the country.

Also expected to come under legislative scrutiny is the death of 37 suspected illegal miners who reportedly died while in NSCDC custody in Niger State.

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A National Assembly source, who spoke with our correspondent in confidence, said both chambers were expected to deliberate on the incident following President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a probe.

The source said, “You know the National Assembly was on recess when the incident was reported. However, following President Bola Tinubu’s call for a probe to unravel what happened, I heard the National Assembly will also deliberate on it from tomorrow (Tuesday).”

The deaths occurred on September 17, 2026, while the suspects were in the custody of the NSCDC in Niger State.

Following the incident, the Federal Government constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the committee after the President directed a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation.

The minister also ordered the suspension of officers allegedly involved in the incident.

The NSCDC subsequently detained 21 personnel in connection with the deaths and later arrested three additional personnel, bringing the number in custody to 24.

The NSCDC spokesman, Assistant Commandant of Corps, Babawale Afolabi, disclosed the development in a statement issued in Abuja.

Afolabi said the affected personnel had been moved from the Niger State Command to the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja for interrogation and administrative disciplinary action.

The Corps also ordered its flag to fly at half-mast across its formations for three days in honour of the deceased.

The National Assembly’s resumption comes as lawmakers face renewed pressure to address insecurity, strengthen policing and ensure accountability in the management of national affairs.

The proposed state police legislation and the investigation into the Niger miners’ deaths are therefore expected to feature prominently in the early proceedings of both chambers.