By Agency Report
A total of 311 members of the House of Representatives on Thursday at plenary voted for the passage of the State Police Establishment Bill.
The Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen who presided over the committee of the whole, read out the names of those that voted for the passage.
According to him, “276 lawmakers voted physically while 35 voted virtually making bringing the number to 311which formed a two/third majority.”
Mr Tajudeen, who described the Bill as a panacea to Nigeria’s security challenges, said it would strengthen public safety and deepen federalism.
Earlier, the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Constitution Amendment committee, Rep. Benjamin Kalu said that the Bill would improve community policing.
Mr Kalu who expressed confidence in the Bill, said that it was the responsibility of the lawmakers to establish a constitutional foundation for smooth administration of the country.
Also speaking, the Minority Leader, Rep. Fred Agbedi decried the speedy passage of the Bill, saying that the process violated Section 9 sub-section 2 of the Nigerian Constitution.
Agbedi said that the passage supposed to have followed clause by clause rather than the hasty process.
The Minority Leader who described the hasty passage as an affront on the rule of law, said that it was a negation of democratic principles.
According to him, we in the minority are not against the creation of state police, but we are against the hasty process.
Agbedi said that the speedy process adopted by the Speaker in the passage of the Bill was not only an abuse of due process, but totally absurd.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Minority Caucus, Rep. Afam Ogene said that constitution amendment required two-third participation of the members.
Ogene said that the hasty passage was a total disregard of the laid down rules and the Constitution as enshrined in Section 9 sub-section 2.
NAN reports that the State Police Bill is a landmark constitutional amendment in Nigeria that decentralises policing by moving it from the Exclusive Legislative list to the Concurrent Legislative list.
It creates a dual policing structure (Federal and State) and establishes strict accountability measures, Core Provisions and Structure.
The dual security structure permits state governments to establish, fund and run their own state police forces alongside the central Nigeria Police Force.
The bill also provides for leadership and appointment structure empowering state governors to appoint state police commissioners, subject to confirmation by the State House of Assembly and clearance by the National Police Council.
It also provides for oversight body, creates an expanded National Police Council and mandates every state to set up a State Police Service Commission for recruitment and discipline.Safeguards and Federal Intervention.
Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria sets the rules for changing normal parts of the law.
It requires: a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of the National Assembly, and approval from at least two/thirds of all State Houses of Assembly.
NAN
