Reps Withdraw Own State Police Bill, Advance Executive Constitutional Amendment

The House of Representatives has withdrawn its proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police, opting instead to consider a similar bill submitted by the Executive.

The decision was taken during Tuesday’s plenary, where lawmakers passed the Executive-sponsored State Police Bill through its first and second readings.

Following the readings, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Constitutional Review for further legislative consideration.

The move effectively suspends the House’s earlier proposal as lawmakers shift their attention to the Executive-backed amendment.

The committee is expected to examine the key provisions of the bill before presenting its recommendations to the House for further debate and consideration.

The proposed constitutional amendment forms part of ongoing efforts to address Nigeria’s security challenges through the creation of state police, a long-debated reform aimed at strengthening policing at the sub-national level.