The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the State Police Bill, paving the way for the decentralisation of Nigeria’s policing system.
The decision came after lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in support of the proposal during plenary. The bill had been scheduled for consideration following growing concerns over persistent killings, kidnappings and bandit attacks reported in different parts of the country in recent months.
Before voting commenced, some lawmakers raised concerns about the process. A member representing Kaduna State, Bashir Zubairu, argued that the report prepared by the House Committee on Constitution Review was only distributed to lawmakers shortly before the session. He maintained that members needed more time to study the document before taking a decision.
Despite the objection, the Speaker ruled him out of order and allowed proceedings to continue. As deliberations progressed, some lawmakers attempted to raise additional points of order, but the presiding officer moved ahead with the exercise.
Speaker Abbas also informed members that the electronic voting system was not functioning, making it necessary to conduct the vote based on the attendance register and physical participation of lawmakers present in the chamber.
At the end of the exercise, 289 lawmakers voted in support of the State Police Bill, while only one member voted against it. The Speaker did not participate in the voting.
The passage of the bill marks a major step in the long-running debate over the creation of state-controlled police forces in Nigeria. Supporters believe the measure could help improve security by allowing states to take a more active role in policing their territories, while critics have continued to express concerns about possible misuse by state governments.
With the House now approving the proposal, attention is expected to shift to the next stages required for the constitutional amendment process and eventual implementation if all legal requirements are met.