Reloaded News Desk
The push to create State Police Services is moving into the state legislative chambers, with Houses of Assembly beginning consideration of the constitutional amendment transmitted by the National Assembly.
The proposed amendment seeks to establish a constitutional framework allowing states that choose to do so to operate their own police services while retaining the Nigeria Police Force as the federal police service.
The Oyo State House of Assembly has received the proposed amendment for legislative consideration.
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly is also expected to begin consideration of the bill when lawmakers resume plenary on September 28.
The development follows the passage of the Executive Bill by the Senate on June 24 and the House of Representatives on July 23.
The constitutional process requires the participation of state legislatures before an amendment can take effect.
The proposal is part of a broader national debate over Nigeria’s security structure, particularly concerns about policing capacity, response time, local intelligence and the ability of security agencies to respond to threats across the country’s diverse communities.
Supporters of State Police have argued that policing closer to communities could improve intelligence gathering and response.
The proposal also raises questions about recruitment, funding, training, operational independence, accountability and safeguards against the use of state police for political purposes.
Those issues will become increasingly important as individual state assemblies scrutinise the proposed constitutional framework.
The development in Oyo and Nasarawa follows moves by other state legislatures, making the issue one to watch across the federation.
The constitutional amendment process is not the same as immediate creation of state police forces. Further legislative and constitutional steps would have to be completed before states could begin operating under the proposed framework.
Reloaded News — NEWS THAT INFORMS. MEDIA THAT TRANSFORMS
