State Police Bill Progresses In House of Reps amidst Fierce Debates, Scales Second Reading

The state police bill has passed the second reading in the House of Representatives.

The bill sponsored by the House Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, and 14 others seeks to alter 18 sections 34, 35, 39, 42, 84, 89, 129, 153, 197, 214 and 216 of the 1999 constitution.

It seeks to transfer the term ‘police’ in the 1999 constitution from the exclusive list to the concurrent legislative list of the constitution.

Honorable Mukhtar Shagaya presenting the bill on behalf of the sponsors during the Tuesday plenary said it was an exigency of time, calling for the creation of the state police force.

Opposing the bill, the House chief whip, Bello Kumo worried that the proposed state police force would be abused by the state governors.

Honorable Kumo was supported on the non-desirability of the bill by some members, including Soda Sola and Obiiba Aguicha.

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The bill was passed after it was put to voice vote and had been referred to the House Committee on the 1999 constitution review.

Additionally, it seeks to allow the federal government to provide grants and aid to states to support the establishment of a police force for each state.

Leading the debate on the bill on behalf of the co-sponsors, Muktar Shagaya (APC, Kwara), said the state police bill is not only a matter of federalism but that the exigency of time calls for its creation.

This bill emerges as a necessary response to several calls for a decentralized and community-oriented approach to law enforcement.

It seeks to navigate the complex landscape of security challenges by empowering our states with the means to address issues unique to their localities.

This proposed alteration represents not just a legal adjustment to our grundnorm but a visionary leap towards a safer, more secure, and harmonious Britain, he said.