The proposed constitutional amendment seeking to decentralise the security architecture of Nigeria and establish state police has encountered a legislative hurdle. As of Thursday, only five out of the 36 State Houses of Assembly have approved the bill, completely missing the 30-day deliberation deadline set by the National Assembly.
The Assemblies of Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, and Zamfara are the only sub-national legislatures to have officially passed the proposed framework. The remaining 31 state assemblies are reportedly still studying the document or awaiting public hearings, leaving the reform short of the constitutional requirement of at least 24 state approvals.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, dismissed concerns that the process could be stalled until the inauguration of the 11th National Assembly. He assured Nigerians that the current Senate would complete the promulgation process before the expiration of its tenure in 2027, provided the states deliver the required two-thirds majority.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has announced that the National Policing Bill, designed to operationalize the dual policing structure, is 90 per cent ready.
“The National Policing Bill is more or less ready for transmission to the National Assembly. We will probably have one more meeting after this to cross the t’s and dot the i’s and make sure every area is covered,” stated the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Gbajabiamila added that the executive draft, which addresses critical issues like human rights safeguards, fiscal conditions, and federal-state coordination, will be formally transmitted to federal lawmakers by October 29.
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