By David AFOLABI
The Nigerian lower house, the House of Representatives, is expected to pass the bill on the proposed establishment of state police in the country today.
This will be a major step in the battle against insecurity in the country bedeviled by terrorism and banditry.
The bill is also scheduled for a second reading on the Senate floor.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is particularly interested in the passage of this bill as he has spoken in its favour more than once.
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This is expected to influence the lower house, where the ruling party, APC, has a majority of members.
An amendment to Section 214 of the Constitution will be presented as a bill on which members of the House are expected to vote, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu has said.
Kalu, the lead sponsor of the bill, is also Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review.
All members of the House who are on oversight assignments have been directed to return to Abuja for today’s proceedings.
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Similarly, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said this week that the state police bill would be passed this week in view of the urgent need to address insecurity across the country.
Under the current Constitution, policing is on the Exclusive Legislative List, making it solely a federal responsibility.
The proposed amendment seeks to move policing to the Concurrent Legislative List, allowing states to establish and operate their own police formations.
According to the draft amendment, the bill introduces new definitions into Section 318 of the Constitution, providing legal backing for both state police and community policing.
Under the proposal, state police is defined as “a law enforcement agency established to operate specifically at the state level to maintain law and order within its jurisdiction.”
The bill also provides a detailed definition of community policing as “a policing approach in which law enforcement personnel work in close partnership with residents, community institutions, and local stakeholders to prevent crime, maintain public safety, and resolve security concerns through collaboration, problem-solving, trust-building, and regular engagement with the community.”
Clause 2 of the proposed amendment seeks to alter Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution by replacing it with a new provision establishing:
“(a) Federal Police known as the Nigeria Police; and
“(b) State Police in each state of the Federation.”
It further provides that the Nigeria Police, State Police or Community Police established under the section shall be organised and administered in accordance with provisions prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.
The proposed amendment also states that members of the Nigeria Police shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be conferred on them by law.
