By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The House of Representatives on Thursday recorded a major milestone in Nigeria’s constitutional reform process as it passed the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish State Police, with an overwhelming 289 lawmakers voting in support of the proposal.
According to the statement signed by the Spokesman, House of Representatives, Rep. Akin Rotimi, the landmark legislation, considered one of the most consequential security reforms in recent years, secured passage after attendance was verified at 290 members, surpassing the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds quorum of the 360-member House.
Only one member voted against the bill, while no abstentions were recorded.
The bill, which contains 18 clauses, seeks to amend Sections 214 to 216 and other relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to provide a legal framework for the creation and operation of state police across the federation.
Following its third reading on the floor of the House, the legislation was passed and accorded priority status within the ongoing constitutional review exercise, leading lawmakers to defer voting on other constitution amendment bills slated for consideration.
The passage marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s approach to internal security, as advocates of state policing have long argued that the country’s centralised policing structure has struggled to effectively respond to growing security challenges across diverse regions.
Under the proposed framework, state police formations would operate alongside federal policing institutions, with constitutional safeguards designed to ensure coordination, accountability, oversight, and a clear division of responsibilities between national and subnational security authorities.
Supporters of the measure believe the decentralised policing system will improve intelligence gathering, enhance rapid response capabilities, and strengthen community-based security management across the country.
Reacting to the development, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, described the passage of the bill as a decisive step toward addressing Nigeria’s security concerns through constitutional means.
According to the Speaker, security remains the bedrock upon which national development, economic prosperity, and social stability are built.
He said the House had taken a bold constitutional step toward creating a policing structure that is more responsive to local realities while preserving the unity and sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Also commenting on the outcome, the Deputy Speaker of the House and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, said the vote reflected the legislature’s responsiveness to growing national consensus on the need for comprehensive security sector reforms.
Kalu noted that the passage of the bill demonstrated the commitment of lawmakers to strengthening governance structures and addressing contemporary security challenges through constitutional innovation.
The State Police Bill forms part of a broader package of constitutional amendments currently under consideration by the National Assembly, covering areas such as electoral reforms, judicial reforms, devolution of powers, fiscal restructuring, local government administration, human rights protections, and institutional strengthening.
The House reaffirmed its commitment to an inclusive, transparent and result-oriented constitutional review process aimed at deepening democracy, enhancing national security, and improving governance in line with the aspirations of Nigerians.
