The Senate has commenced consideration of a constitutional amendment bill seeking the establishment of state police across the country.
The proposed legislation was forwarded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security framework.
The bill seeks amendments to relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal basis for state-controlled police formations.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the President’s communication during plenary on Tuesday and described the proposal as a major step in addressing insecurity.
He said the creation of state police would improve intelligence gathering at the community level and encourage greater citizen participation in maintaining public safety.
According to Akpabio, local communities are often better placed to identify security threats and suspicious activities within their environments.
He noted that several state governments have already indicated their readiness to implement the initiative once the constitutional process is completed.
The Senate President also praised members of the Constitution Review Committee, stating that the proposal emerged after extensive consultations and deliberations spanning nearly two years.
He directed the committee handling the constitutional review process to continue work on the bill, reaffirming the Senate’s commitment to expediting its consideration.
However, further debate on the legislation was deferred until Wednesday following the announcement of the death of Yaya Tongo, a member of the House of Representatives from Gombe State, prompting the Senate to observe a moment of condolence.