The Senate is set to consider a constitutional amendment establishing state police this week, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has said, adding that the bill will subsequently be transmitted to the 36 state houses of assembly for ratification.
Bamidele, in a statement issued by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs on Monday, said all stakeholders across the federation were aligned with the National Assembly on the need to establish state police, describing the matter as one of national urgency.
He said the National Assembly had resolved to isolate the state police provision from the broader ongoing constitutional amendment exercise in order to fast-track its passage.
“There is no need to allow any further delay,” Bamidele said. “We will initiate the proposal for the creation of state police within the week.”
He added that President Bola Tinubu and the majority of state governors were in support of the bill, and that state assemblies were already awaiting it.
Bamidele said a series of consultations had been held in the past week involving the chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives committees on constitutional review — Senators Barau Jibrin and Benjamin Kalu respectively — alongside the Office of the Attorney-General, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu.
Under the amendment process, the bill would require the approval of at least two-thirds of the 36 state assemblies before it can receive presidential assent.
The move seeks to alter Section 214(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which currently provides for a single, unified Nigeria Police Force.
Gbajabiamila had earlier disclosed that President Tinubu would receive a comprehensive briefing on the proposed state police framework as consultations neared completion.
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