\n\nNigeria’s House of Representatives has withdrawn its independently sponsored constitutional amendment bill seeking the establishment of state police, opting instead to support the executive proposal submitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The decision was reached during plenary as lawmakers agreed that working with a single executive-backed bill would help streamline deliberations and avoid duplication during the constitutional amendment process.
The issue of state policing has remained one of the country’s most debated security reforms. Supporters argue that creating state-controlled police forces would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community policing, and enable faster responses to insecurity such as kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and communal clashes.
However, critics have consistently expressed concerns that state police could be abused by some governors for political purposes or used to intimidate opponents if adequate constitutional safeguards are not put in place.
The executive proposal is expected to address many of these concerns by outlining a legal framework for recruitment, funding, operational oversight, accountability, and cooperation between federal and state security agencies. Lawmakers have indicated that extensive consultations with stakeholders—including governors, security experts, civil society groups, and traditional rulers—will continue before any final decision is made.
Security remains one of the Federal Government’s top priorities as Nigeria continues to battle various forms of violent crime across several regions. Many Nigerians believe security agencies need additional reforms to improve their effectiveness in protecting lives and property.
The withdrawal of the House bill does not signal an end to the state police debate. Instead, it marks a new phase in the legislative process, with lawmakers now focusing on the executive proposal that could reshape Nigeria’s policing structure if it receives the required constitutional approval.
