Senate Sets November 15 Deadline for State Police Approval

The Senate has established November 15 as the final deadline for the six state Houses of Assembly that have yet to approve the proposed establishment of state police. This decision follows the approval of the proposed constitutional amendment by 30 out of the 36 state assemblies, surpassing the two-thirds majority required for its passage.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu (Rep, Bende), indicated that the bill would soon be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent. Senate President Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North) requested more time for the remaining assemblies to respond, emphasizing that any assembly failing to meet the deadline would be considered as withholding approval.

The Senate unanimously supported this appeal. The proposed amendment aims to decentralize policing in Nigeria, allowing state governments to establish and manage their own police services, addressing concerns about the limitations of the current centralized policing system.