ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a bill to the National Assembly seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution and establish state police across Nigeria, a move that would fundamentally restructure the country’s security architecture by replacing the decades-old unitary policing system with a dual model comprising the Federal Police Service and State Police Services.
The bill, which was forwarded to both chambers of the National Assembly on Monday, proposes a comprehensive overhaul of the existing police framework, including the creation of State Police Service Commissions responsible for recruitment and oversight, while the Federal Police Service would retain authority to intervene in state policing under exceptional circumstances, subject to presidential authorisation and judicial review.
In a letter addressed to the leadership of the National Assembly, the President argued that the establishment of state police would significantly enhance the country’s capacity to address the diverse and complex security challenges facing different regions of the federation. He noted that the current centralised policing structure, which places all police personnel under the control of the Inspector-General of Police in Abuja, has proven inadequate in responding to the unique security dynamics of various states and communities.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution to replace the existing provision establishing the Nigeria Police Force, as well as Sections 215 and 216, which deal with the appointment and control of the police. The bill also proposes amendments to the Second, Third, and Fourth Schedules of the Constitution to accommodate the new policing framework.
Under the proposed framework, each state’s police service will be headed by a Commissioner of Police appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State House of Assembly. Governors would be prohibited from directing state police authorities to target specific individuals or political parties, and the bill provides for safeguards against potential abuse of the new policing structure.
The constitutional amendment bill, which will require the approval of at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly before it can be presented to the President for assent, represents one of the most consequential security reforms since the country’s return to democratic governance in 1999. The move has been widely welcomed by state governors and security experts, who have long advocated for decentralised policing to address the country’s security challenges.
The President urged the National Assembly to give the bill expeditious consideration, stressing that the security of lives and property remains a top priority of his administration. He expressed confidence that the establishment of state police would bring law enforcement closer to the people and enhance the capacity of states to address their unique security concerns effectively.
