JOS, Nigeria — The Plateau State House of Assembly has declared its readiness to provide legislative backing for the creation of state police, with Speaker Naanlong Daniel assuring that the bill will be treated as a priority once formally presented to the House.
Speaking in Jos on Thursday during an advocacy visit by the Plateau State Advisory Committee on State Police, led by retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG Habila Joshak, Daniel said the Assembly believes state policing will contribute significantly to ending the prolonged insecurity affecting parts of Plateau State and other regions of the country. He stressed that lawmakers have long advocated for its establishment and commended President Bola Tinubu for demonstrating commitment toward addressing insecurity and supporting reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.
The Speaker assured the committee of the legislature’s full cooperation and readiness to provide the necessary legislative support to ensure the success of the initiative. He further stressed that security remains a collective responsibility and that all stakeholders must work together to achieve lasting peace across the state.
Earlier, Joshak told the Assembly that Plateau’s complex security challenges over the years make state police a vital step toward strengthening security management, improving intelligence gathering, and restoring public confidence in law enforcement. He noted that the committee is expected to serve as a reference point for other states across the federation as discussions on state policing continue nationwide.
Joshak emphasised that the role of the State Assembly in achieving the objective cannot be overstated, stressing that lawmakers will be instrumental in providing the legal backing and careful legislative planning required for the successful implementation of the initiative. He urged members to support the process, noting that state police would help address peculiar security concerns within communities and complement existing security structures.
Committee member Chris Kwajah also appealed to legislators to expedite action on the proposed legislation once presented, describing it as an opportunity to tackle persistent security challenges and address perceived gaps in the conventional policing system. He maintained that a state police structure would enhance local intelligence gathering, improve response time to security threats, and strengthen community participation in maintaining law and order.
The committee reiterated that the proposed state police structure would be inclusive and serve all citizens equally, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation, with fairness, professionalism, and accountability as central principles.
The Plateau State Advisory Committee on state police was constituted by Governor Caleb Mutfwang in March to facilitate implementation of state policing and provide guidance on its operational framework.
This declaration by the Plateau Assembly comes shortly after the Senate passed a landmark constitutional amendment bill establishing state police, replacing the decades-old unitary structure of the Nigeria Police Force with a dual model comprising the Federal Police Service and State Police Services. The bill, transmitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, has already been passed by the House of Representatives and now awaits ratification by at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly.
The legislation includes safeguards against political abuse, establishing that governors would be prohibited from directing state police authorities to target specific individuals or political parties, and providing for State Police Service Commissions responsible for recruitment and oversight. The Federal Police Service would retain authority to intervene in state policing under exceptional circumstances, subject to presidential authorisation, Senate oversight, and judicial review.
The advocacy visit forms part of ongoing consultations ahead of the formal introduction and consideration of the state police bill in the Assembly. As the constitutional process continues, the Plateau Assembly’s commitment signals strong support for the reform in one of the states most affected by security challenges.
