House of Representatives Advances State Police Legislation

The House of Representatives in Nigeria is intensifying efforts to establish state police amid growing insecurity concerns. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, alongside zonal caucus leaders, announced the legislative push, highlighting the need for constitutional reforms to enhance police response capabilities.

Kalu noted that the current constitutional framework inadequately meets security expectations, prompting discussions on amending Section 214 to facilitate state police establishment. The proposed constitutional amendment, which received priority attention, aims to decentralize policing and improve local security responses.

Kalu expressed confidence in garnering support from state governors and the House of Assembly for the proposal. The bill, sponsored by Kalu and 14 lawmakers, was passed on February 20, 2024, seeking to transfer police powers from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list, thereby allowing states to establish and control their police forces.

The proposed amendments include 16 provisions to ensure coordination and uniform standards between federal and state police structures.