The Senate has approved the State Police Bill, marking a significant step toward one of Nigeria’s most far-reaching constitutional reforms since the country’s return to democratic governance in 1999.
The proposed amendment, which seeks to decentralise policing and strengthen grassroots security, introduces a framework for the establishment of state police services alongside the existing Nigeria Police Force, creating a dual policing structure across the federation.
A key provision of the bill empowers state governors to appoint Commissioners of Police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by their state Houses of Assembly. The measure is designed to give states greater control over local security while maintaining a federal policing system for national responsibilities.
According to Clause 17 of the proposed constitutional amendment, while the Federal Police Service will continue to be headed by the Inspector-General of Police, each State Police Service will be led by a Commissioner of Police appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state legislature.
The legislation was adopted after the Senate considered and approved the report of the Senate Committee on the Review of the Constitution, presented by Deputy Senate President and committee chairman, Senator Barau Jibrin.
Lawmakers first examined the provisions during deliberations at the Committee of the Whole before adopting the recommendations and proceeding to a final vote on the measure.
Leading debate on the bill, Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele described the proposal as a carefully structured reform aimed at striking a balance between local policing autonomy and national unity.
He explained that the framework preserves the Nigeria Police Force as the country’s federal policing institution while allowing states that choose to do so to establish their own police services tailored to local security needs.
“The bill is intended to retain the Nigeria Police Force for federal policing duties while providing for the establishment of state police services in states that choose to adopt them,” Bamidele said during the debate.
He further noted that the proposed arrangement clearly outlines the responsibilities of both federal and state police authorities. Under the bill, state police services would be tasked with enforcing state laws, maintaining public safety and public order, preventing and detecting crimes within their jurisdictions, protecting lives and property, and carrying out other community-based policing functions.
Supporters of the reform argue that state police will improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community engagement and enable quicker responses to security threats, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The ball is now in the court of the State house of assemblies to perform.
