The Senate on Wednesday passed a constitutional alteration bill for the establishment of State Police across Nigeria, describing it as a major step toward tackling insecurity and deepening federalism.
The 25-clause bill provides the legal framework for states to create State Police Services and includes constitutional safeguards to prevent abuse of police powers by governors and other political actors.
Leading debate on the bill, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the legislation was designed to address fears that governors could misuse state-controlled police to harass opponents, intimidate dissenters, or suppress opposition parties.
To guard against this, the bill prohibits any governor from directing a State Police Service to unlawfully target any person, political party, group, or association. It also bars the use of police powers for partisan, ethnic, religious, sectional, or personal interests.
Federal intervention framework
A major feature of the bill is federal intervention in exceptional cases. The Federal Government may intervene where there is a breakdown of public order, where a State Police Service becomes incapable of functioning, where there are serious abuses of fundamental rights, cases of partisan or electoral intimidation, or threats to national security.
Such intervention must be authorized in writing by the President, stating the grounds, territory, functions, and duration. Notice must also be sent within 48 hours to the state governor, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, National Police Council, and National Assembly.
National standards + dual policing
The bill empowers the National Assembly to set national minimum standards for federal and state police institutions, covering recruitment, training, vetting, promotion, discipline, use of force, and handling of firearms.
It replaces the current constitutional provision establishing only the Nigeria Police Force with a dual policing system: a Federal Police Service for the federation and a State Police Service for any state that chooses to establish one through legislation passed by its House of Assembly.
The Senate clarified that State Police will not exist automatically. Any state seeking to establish one must pass a law creating it, and the force must be certified as meeting national minimum standards.
The bill also outlines responsibilities of the Federal Police Service to include protection of federal institutions, policing of the FCT, counter-terrorism, organized crime, cybercrime, border security, arms trafficking, inter-state crimes, and other matters affecting national security.
According to the Senate, the bill is expected to improve community policing, ensure faster response to security threats, and ease the burden on federal agencies so the Federal Police can focus on terrorism and cross-border crimes.
The Senate passed the bill clause by clause as sent by President Bola Tinubu. The next phase is harmonisation with the House of Representatives, after which it will be transmitted to State Houses of Assembly for approval in line with the constitutional amendment process.
Senate Passes State Police Bill With Safeguards Against Governors’ Abuse
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