11/06/2026
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐ข๐ญ๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐
By Comrade Oku Udoetor
In a landmark step toward addressing Nigeriaโs escalating security challenges, the House of Representatives on Thursday overwhelmingly approved the State Police Bill, paving the way for the decentralisation of the nationโs policing system.
The decision was reached during plenary presided over by Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, with 289 lawmakers voting in support of the proposal.
The approval comes amid growing concerns over persistent insecurity across the country, including rising cases of killings, kidnappings, armed banditry, and other violent crimes. The House had earlier resolved to dedicate Thursdayโs sitting to deliberations and voting on the bill as part of efforts to strengthen security governance at the sub-national level.
However, proceedings were briefly disrupted by objections from some lawmakers regarding the timing of the circulation of the constitutional amendment document.
Representing a constituency in Kaduna State, Bashir Zubairu raised a point of order, arguing that members had insufficient time to study the report prepared by the House Committee on Constitution Review before voting.
According to him, the document was only made available to lawmakers shortly before the commencement of plenary, making it difficult for members to adequately scrutinise its contents.
Despite the objection, the Speaker ruled the lawmaker out of order and directed that the legislative process continue.
As deliberations progressed, several members were heard raising points of order, but the presiding officer proceeded with the consideration of the billโs provisions.
Before voting commenced, Speaker Abbas informed members that the electronic voting system was experiencing technical difficulties. Consequently, the House adopted a manual voting process based on attendance records.
Of the 290 lawmakers present during the exercise, 289 voted in favour of the State Police Bill, while only one member voted against it. The Speaker abstained from voting.
The overwhelming endorsement marks one of the most significant constitutional reform efforts in recent years and signals strong legislative support for the creation of state controlled police formations aimed at enhancing grassroots security and improving response to local threats across the federation.
If eventually adopted through the constitutional amendment process, the State Police framework is expected to fundamentally transform Nigeriaโs security architecture by granting states greater authority and responsibility in maintaining law and order within their jurisdictions.
