Senate Passes State Police Bill, Introduces Safeguards Against Governors’ Abuse

The Senate on Wednesday passed the constitutional alteration bill seeking the establishment of State Police across Nigeria, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen security and deepen federalism.

The 25-clause legislation provides the legal framework for states to establish their own police services while incorporating constitutional safeguards designed to prevent the misuse of police powers by governors and other political actors.

Leading the debate on the bill, Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele said the proposed law was deliberately structured to address concerns that state-controlled police could be used to harass political opponents, intimidate critics, or suppress opposition parties.

According to the bill, no governor shall direct a State Police Service to unlawfully target any individual, political party, group, or association. It also prohibits the use of state police for partisan, ethnic, religious, sectional, or personal interests.

To ensure accountability, the legislation provides for federal intervention in exceptional circumstances, including the breakdown of public order, inability of a State Police Service to function effectively, serious violations of fundamental rights, partisan or electoral intimidation, and threats to national security.

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Such intervention must be authorised in writing by the President, clearly stating the reasons, affected territory, scope of functions, and duration. The President is also required to notify the state governor, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, National Police Council, and the National Assembly within 48 hours.

The bill further empowers the National Assembly to establish national minimum standards for both federal and state police institutions, covering recruitment, training, vetting, promotions, discipline, use of force, and firearms management.

If eventually enacted, the current constitutional provision establishing only the Nigeria Police Force will be replaced by a dual policing system comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services established by individual states.

However, the Senate clarified that State Police will not be created automatically. Any state wishing to establish its own police service must first enact the necessary legislation through its House of Assembly, while the proposed force must meet the national minimum standards prescribed by the National Assembly.

The bill also defines the responsibilities of the Federal Police Service, including the protection of federal institutions, policing the Federal Capital Territory, counter-terrorism operations, organised crime investigations, cybercrime, border security, arms trafficking, inter-state criminal activities, and other national security matters.

Lawmakers expressed confidence that the measure would strengthen community policing, improve response to security threats, and reduce the burden on federal security agencies, enabling them to concentrate on terrorism, organised criminal networks, and other cross-border crimes.

The passage of the bill follows increasing calls for the decentralisation of policing powers as part of wider reforms aimed at addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.

Having passed the Senate clause by clause after being transmitted by President Bola Tinubu, the bill will now proceed to harmonisation with the House of Representatives to resolve any differences between both chambers before being forwarded to the State Houses of Assembly for consideration, in line with the constitutional amendment process.