Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called on all senators to be present at Wednesday’s plenary session as the National Assembly prepares to consider a constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police services across Nigeria.
Speaking during an emergency Senate sitting on Tuesday, Akpabio described the proposed State Police Bill as one of the most significant legislative reforms in the country’s democratic history, noting that it could fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s security architecture.
He urged lawmakers to treat the exercise as a national duty, stressing that constitutional amendments require broad participation and support from members of the legislature.
“Since 1960, Nigeria has not had the courage to decentralise policing, and this is the first time. As we struggle to become senators, let us also remember the responsibilities of being a senator. It is not enough for us to look for tickets. And when we get them, we don’t come to the chambers,” Akpabio said.
According to the Senate President, the amendment to the 1999 Constitution would provide the legal framework for the establishment of state police services while incorporating safeguards against potential abuse through subsequent legislation and regulatory oversight.
He explained that the reform is aimed at strengthening community-based policing by involving local governments, traditional rulers, village leaders, youth groups and other grassroots stakeholders in security management.
Akpabio argued that local communities are better positioned to identify suspicious individuals and criminal activities within their environments, adding that decentralised policing would improve intelligence gathering and enable quicker responses to security threats.
To accelerate the legislative process, he directed the Senate Committee on Constitution Review to submit its report by Wednesday, June 24, to allow immediate consideration of the bill.
Also speaking, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele emphasised the importance of full attendance, noting that constitutional amendments require the support of at least two-thirds of senators.
“We need a minimum of two-thirds of distinguished senators to be able to vote on constitutional alteration. That means it is important for all of us to be here,” Bamidele said.
He described the state police proposal as a national issue that transcends political, regional and partisan interests and urged lawmakers to encourage absent colleagues to attend the session.
The Senate subsequently adjourned plenary until Wednesday, June 24, 2026, when members are expected to debate and vote on the constitutional amendment.
The push for state police has gained renewed momentum following President Bola Tinubu’s endorsement of the proposal and ongoing constitutional review efforts by the National Assembly.
Supporters of the initiative argue that state-controlled policing will improve local security coordination and intelligence gathering, while critics have raised concerns over funding, operational control and possible political interference.
For the amendment to become law, it must secure the approval of at least two-thirds of members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. It must also be ratified by no fewer than 24 state Houses of Assembly before being transmitted to the President for assent.
If passed, the legislation would represent the most significant restructuring of Nigeria’s policing system since independence and could redefine the country’s approach to internal security.
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