The House of Representatives will vote today on the proposed creation of state police.
The bill on state police is one of the constitutional amendment bills currently under consideration by the National Assembly.
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It is titled,” A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to provide for the establishment of state police, and for related matters (Sixth Alteration) 2026.”
It is part of ongoing constitutional amendment proposals, seeking to formally introduce state and community policing structures, following growing concerns that the current centralised policing system has been unable to curb insurgency, banditry and kidnapping across the country effectively.
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The proposal has generated significant public debate in recent years, with supporters arguing that decentralised policing would improve security responses and allow states to tackle local threats more effectively. At the same time, critics have raised concerns about potential abuse by state governments.
In the House, it is jointly sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu (APC, Abia) and 14 other members.
Mr Kalu, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, told journalists that the chamber resolved to give priority to the state police proposal over other constitutional amendment bills.
He said the proposed amendment had become imperative given the rising cases of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes nationwide, stressing that the legislature must deploy constitutional and legislative instruments to address gaps in the country’s security framework.
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Last December, President Bola Tinubu expressed support for the creation of state police, describing it as a step that could enhance national security.
The 360 members of the House are expected to participate in the voting process today.
PREMIUM TIMES will bring you updates on the proceedings in the House.
12:25 p.m:
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has arrived in the chamber. Lawmakers welcomed him as they exchanged pleasantries.
12:33 p.m.:
Lawmakers have commenced proceedings with the recitation of the national anthem, the National Assembly pledge and opening prayers.
1:07 p.m.:
House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo), has moved a motion for the House of Representatives to suspend its rules and consider a motion for the rescission of its earlier decision on the presentation of the reports of the Committee on Constitution Review, pursuant to Order Nine, Rule 1(6) of the Standing Orders of the House.
The motion was seconded by the Minority Leader of the House, Fred Agbedi (PDP, Bayelsa).
1:10 p.m:
A total of 290 lawmakers are present at the commencement of the consideration of this motion. The House has 360 members.
1:15 p.m.:
The motion is in the name of Francis Waive (APC, Delta).
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, said the House was only considering the constitutional amendment bill relating to security due to the urgency surrounding the matter.
“We are only picking one that pertains to security and it is for obvious reasons. We cannot continue to delay this consideration and that is why we are going to consider this.
“After that, we will embark on our end-of-year recess for two weeks. This will enable members to go and read the bills for consideration when we resume,” Mr Tajudeen said.
1:20 p.m:
The deputy speaker of the house Benjamin Kalu has presented and and laid the report on the floor
This was seconded by Mr Ihonvbere
1:25 p.m :
The House has dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the state police bill
1:30 p.m.:
Mr Tajudeen, announced that the electronic voting system was not functioning.
He said the consideration of the motion would therefore be conducted manually (through a voice vote).
1:32 p.m.:
Benjamin Kalu, chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, said national security had become the House’s top priority, noting that lawmakers had been mobilised from their constituencies because of the urgency of the matter.
1:33 p.m:
Mr Kalu said the proposal under consideration, had gone through all legislative stages, including public hearing, and was now due for voting.
Mr Kalu explained that the aim of the bill was to fast-track reforms that would advance state policing, stressing that once passed, it would proceed to the states and thereafter to the president for assent.
1:35 p.m:
According to Mr Kalu, state police would improve response time to security incidents by decentralising policing authority currently concentrated in Abuja, and allow communities to benefit from officers who understand local languages, geography and culture.
He urged lawmakers to support the proposal, describing it as a potential legacy reform that would strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture beyond military intervention.
1:42 p.m.:
Mr Tajudeen, said the House would not proceed clause-by-clause but would instead consider the bill by its long title.
He thereafter read out the long title of the bill, after which a manual count commenced.
1:44 p.m.:
A manual count was conducted in the chamber, with 289 members voting in support of the motion while 4 voting against it.
1:46 p.m:
The House has reverted to plenary
1:48 p.m: Mr Tajudeen put the decision to a voice vote and the majority adopted the bill.
1:05 p.m.:
Mr Ihonvbere the House Leader, moved a motion for the document to be adopted as a working document. The motion was seconded by the Minority Leader Fred Agbedi.
1:05 p.m.:
The Clerk of the House has read the long title of the bill, after which it was read for the third time and passed by the House of Representatives.
1:13 p.m:
The Leader of the House, Julius Ihonvbere, subsequently moved a motion for the adjournment of plenary. The motion was seconded by the Minority Leader, Fred Agbedi.
Thereafter, the House adjourned sittings till 7 July to enable members proceed on their end-of-legislative year break and return to their constituencies.
2:03 p.m.:
Mr Tajudeen has announced that the House of Representatives has passed the bill, with only one lawmaker abstaining from the vote.
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