NASS to conclude state police law before December – Senate Leader

The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has said the two chambers of the National Assembly will review state assemblies’ resolutions on the proposed state police system and conclude the process before December.

Mr Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, said the lawmakers would review resolutions passed by state Houses of Assembly on the proposed constitutional amendment before transmitting the final resolution to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

He spoke on Thursday while delivering a lecture at the Senior Executive Course 48 programme organised by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, Plateau State.

“We have set a clear timeline for ourselves. We intend to conclude all these legislative stages — consideration of reports, passage of resolution, and transmission for presidential assent — on or before December 2026,” he said.

The Senate and the House of Representatives passed the proposed state police framework in September, and it was transmitted to state Houses of Assembly for consideration as part of the process of amending the 1999 Constitution.

The proposal seeks to establish state police services that would operate alongside the existing federal police system.

Under the proposed framework, state governors would appoint police commissioners, subject to confirmation by their respective Houses of Assembly. Governors would also be empowered to direct state police on matters relating to insecurity.

While the Inspector-General of Police would continue to head the federal police, a commissioner appointed by the state governor and confirmed by the state House of Assembly would head each state police service.

The proposal, however, stipulates that existing local security outfits cannot be converted into state police services or exercise police powers under the new framework. It also prohibits such outfits from bearing firearms.

Such outfits include Amotekun in the South-West, Ebube Agu in the South-East, and Hisbah in parts of northern Nigeria.

Under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, a proposed constitutional amendment must be approved by at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly, which means 24 states. before the National Assembly can proceed with the final stages of the amendment process.

About 30 state assemblies have reportedly approved the proposal, exceeding the required threshold and paving the way for the National Assembly to consider their resolutions and proceed with the remaining legislative stages.

State police now a reality

Mr Bamidele said the state assemblies’ approvals had brought the country closer to establishing state police after more than 15 years of efforts to introduce the system.

He said the development demonstrated the National Assembly’s commitment to prioritising the security of lives and property.

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“What this means is that State Police is no longer a campaign promise or a subject of endless debate. It is now a constitutional reality. It means that the security of lives, private property and public assets occupies a prime place in the legislative agenda of the 10th National Assembly,” he said.

He said the proposed system would enable Nigeria to develop a policing structure that understands local terrain, speaks local languages, respects local realities and remains accountable to local communities.

“It is not about creating state armies, but about creating state-led, community-anchored policing within clear constitutional safeguards, operational standards, oversight mechanisms and human rights protections,” he said.

Mr Bamidele added that the National Assembly, under the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, remained committed to establishing state police.

“The National Assembly, under the leadership of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, remains committed to delivering on the establishment of State Police. We will not falter until every Nigerian, whether in Kuru, in Iyin-Ekiti, in Gusau or in Yenagoa, can sleep with both eyes closed,” he said.