Four Nigerian states approve constitutional amendment to enable state police

 Nnadubem Moghalu, senior special assistant to President Bola Tinubu on planning and research, says four states have approved the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police.   The secretary of the presidential working group on the national policing bill spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the parliamentary lecture organised by the house of representatives press corps.   He said so far, Edo, Rivers, Osun, and Oyo had approved the bill, which must be endorsed by at least 24 state houses of assembly before the constitutional alteration can take effect.   “The required threshold is twenty-four states. The constitutional process continues until that threshold is met. The distinction between that constitutional amendment and the national policing bill we are now working on is important. The amendment would create a constitutional basis for the dual policing model,” he said.     “The national policing bill is intended to provide the operational framework through which that constitutional model can work. State legislation and the practical work of building capable institutions must follow within the resulting legal framework.”   He also cautioned against governors using state police to target political opponents or local majorities deploying security forces against minorities, saying the law must clearly define authority and provide mechanisms to punish abuse.   Henry Nwawuba, executive secretary of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, said lawmakers must move beyond expressions of sympathy over insecurity and embrace legislative solutions.     “We can’t keep saying our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of insecurity and we call ourselves legislators,” he said.   Ndudi Elumelu, former minority leader of the house of representatives, backed the reform but underscored the need for safeguards to ensure professionalism, accountability, human rights protection, adequate training and freedom from political interference.   Akin Rotimi, spokesperson of the house of representatives who represented Tajudeen Abbas, the speaker, urged the media and parliament to subject the proposal to rigorous scrutiny based on its principles, provisions and consequences rather than the identity of its sponsors or supporters.   Grace Ike, chairperson of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said policing closer to communities could produce more tailored responses to local security challenges, provided there are effective oversight, funding and accountability mechanisms.  

The Presidential Working Group says Edo, Oyo, Osun and Rivers states have approved the bill state police bill the National Assembly recently transmitted to the 36 state assemblies. The post State Police: Four states approve constitutional amendment bill – Presidential Group appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.

Four Nigerian states have approved the state police amendment so far. Edo, Osun, Oyo and Rivers back the bill, but 24 approvals are needed for it to advance.