House Receives Report on State Police Constitutional Amendment

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives received a report from its Special Ad Hoc Committee on Constitution Review regarding the proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police services in Nigeria. The report was presented by Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Benjamin Kalu, during plenary.

This follows an executive session where the committee harmonized the House's position with the Senate's version of the legislation. The proposed amendment seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), to create a legal framework for state police services.

The report will be scheduled for consideration on a future legislative day, with the date to be fixed by the House Committee on Rules and Business. The proposal is significant amid calls for decentralizing policing to address insecurity.

Supporters believe state police would enhance intelligence and community policing, while critics raise concerns about potential abuse by state governments. Additionally, the House approved the budget estimates for the Nigeria Police Trust Fund for 2025 and 2026, totaling ₦404.07 billion.