Lawmakers at the House of Representatives
House of Representatives has abandoned its own proposed bill on state police and decided to consider the version submitted by President Bola Tinubu.
The Executive-sponsored Constitution Alteration Bill on State Police was introduced during Tuesday’s plenary and passed both first and second readings.
Lawmakers immediately referred the bill to the House Committee on Constitutional Review for detailed examination.
The decision means the House will now focus on the Presidency’s proposal instead of its earlier constitutional amendment on state policing.
The committee is expected to review the bill’s provisions, safeguards and operational framework before presenting its report to the full House.
President Tinubu said the bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal basis for establishing state police services across Nigeria.
In a letter to Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the President explained that the proposal builds on previous work already carried out by the House of Representatives.
He said the legislation also introduces additional safeguards to ensure an effective dual policing system involving both federal and state police authorities.
According to Tinubu, the proposed reform is part of his administration’s strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and improve public safety.
The latest development comes about two weeks after the Senate approved a similar constitutional amendment bill seeking the creation of state police nationwide.
