State Police Bill Set for Transmission to President Tinubu for Assent – Deputy Speaker Kalu

The proposed State Police Bill is set to be transmitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for presidential assent, following progress in the legislative process, according to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu.

Kalu disclosed that the bill is approaching a critical stage, bringing Nigeria closer to a major potential reform of its policing and internal security framework.

The proposed legislation seeks to establish a constitutional and legal framework for the creation of state police, allowing individual states to develop their own policing structures to complement the existing Nigeria Police Force.

The development is expected to generate further discussions about the future of policing in Nigeria, particularly amid growing concerns over insecurity, kidnapping, banditry, communal violence and other criminal activities across different parts of the country.

Supporters of state police argue that decentralising policing would enable security agencies to respond more effectively to local security challenges because officers would have better knowledge of their communities, geographical conditions and security concerns.

The proposed reform is also expected to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve community policing and reduce the pressure on the centrally controlled Nigeria Police Force.

However, concerns have continued to emerge over the possibility of state governments abusing local police structures for political purposes. Issues surrounding funding, operational independence, accountability, human rights protection and effective oversight remain important considerations.

The anticipated transmission of the bill to President Tinubu for assent represents a significant development in the ongoing national conversation about police reform and the restructuring of Nigeria’s security architecture.

If enacted, the proposed legislation could introduce substantial changes to the country’s policing system and provide states with additional institutional capacity to address security challenges within their territories.