The House of Representatives on Thursday approved the bill seeking the establishment of state police, marking a major step in the ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture.
The bill was passed during plenary after lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in its favour. Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the session, announced that 288 members supported the proposal, while only four voted against it.
The vote came a day after members devoted extensive deliberations to the contentious issue of state policing.
Due to the malfunction of the electronic voting system, lawmakers voted by a show of hands.
The passage of the bill by the House reflects growing support for decentralising policing powers amid persistent security challenges across the country.
Meanwhile, the Senate has also advanced the state police proposal, passing it through second reading.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, during plenary, said the bill had been referred to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review for further consideration.
He added that senators would take a vote on the legislation during a subsequent sitting.
If eventually approved by both chambers and ratified through the constitutional amendment process, the bill could pave the way for state governments to establish and manage their own police forces.
More details are expected as the legislative process continues. :::
