Akpabio Pushes Senators Ahead of State Police Vote

Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday appealed to senators to be present at Wednesday’s plenary as the National Assembly prepares to consider the constitutional amendment bill seeking the creation of state police services across the country.

Speaking during an emergency plenary session, Akpabio described the proposal as one of the most important legislative matters before the Senate. He said the planned amendment could reshape the nation’s security structure and improve efforts to tackle growing security challenges in different parts of the country.

According to him, the proposed reform would create a legal foundation for state police while additional laws and regulations would provide checks to guide their operations. He noted that the move would allow security efforts to be driven more closely by local communities and institutions that understand the challenges within their environments.

Akpabio stated that local governments, traditional rulers, youth groups and other grassroots stakeholders would have greater involvement in maintaining security if the proposal becomes law. He maintained that communities are often in a better position to identify suspicious activities and criminal elements operating within their areas.

As part of preparations for the debate, the Senate President directed the Senate Committee on Constitution Review to submit its report on the bill by Wednesday to allow lawmakers begin immediate consideration of the proposal.

Also speaking during the session, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele reminded lawmakers that constitutional amendments require the support of at least two-thirds of members of the chamber before they can be approved. He urged senators to ensure they are present for the sitting and encouraged members to reach out to absent colleagues ahead of the vote.

Bamidele described the state police proposal as a matter that affects the entire country and should not be viewed through political or regional interests. He said lawmakers have a responsibility to participate in the process because of its potential impact on Nigeria’s security system.

Following the discussions, the Senate adjourned plenary until Wednesday, June 24, when members are expected to debate and vote on the bill.

The push for state police has gathered pace in recent months after President Bola Tinubu publicly backed the idea as part of efforts to strengthen security across the federation. Supporters of the proposal believe decentralised policing will improve intelligence gathering, boost local security coordination and allow quicker responses to threats.

However, concerns remain among some stakeholders over issues such as funding, operational control and the possibility of political interference in state police operations.

For the amendment to become part of the Constitution, it must receive the backing of at least two-thirds of members in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. It must also secure approval from no fewer than 24 state Houses of Assembly before it is forwarded to the President for assent.

If the proposal scales all legislative stages, it will mark one of the biggest changes to Nigeria’s policing system since independence and introduce a new approach to handling security challenges across the country.