In a landmark move toward decentralizing Nigeria’s security architecture, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially transmitted a Constitution Alteration Bill to the Senate to establish state police across the federation.
The President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, announced the receipt of the executive bill during Tuesday’s plenary session. The Senate is scheduled to formally consider the critical constitutional amendment tomorrow, Wednesday, during a swift legislative push. In a coordinated effort, state assemblies have also pledged to fast-track their consideration of the bill immediately upon receipt.
The proposed legislation aims to amend relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, creating the necessary legal framework to empower states to manage their own policing systems. This development follows President Tinubu’s persistent advocacy for sweeping constitutional reforms to allow sub-national governments a greater role in securing their territories.
This reform is a vital mechanism to tackle terrorism, banditry, and the evolving security threats facing our nation.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stated during his February charge to the National Assembly.
Reaffirming his administration’s uncompromising stance on national security during his recent Democracy Day address, President Tinubu vowed that terrorists, bandits, and their sponsors would face the full weight of the law.
While the President highlighted significant security milestones achieved over the past year including the neutralization of over 13,000 terrorists and a sharp decline in terrorism-related fatalities, he maintained that the administration will not rest. He acknowledged that the ongoing captivity of abducted schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states remains a stark reminder of the urgent need for structural security reforms.
The push for state policing has gained unprecedented momentum in recent months. Both chambers of the National Assembly are actively advancing the decentralization of policing powers. To ensure rapid progress on this historic legislation, the Senate is expected to reconvene for an emergency plenary session today, marking one of the most far-reaching security reforms in Nigeria’s democratic history.
