Senate gives states November 15 deadline to approve state police bill
The Senate has given State Houses of Assembly until 15 November to approve the State Police Bill, as the National Assembly moves to conclude the constitutional amendment process before transmitting the legislation to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele announced the deadline during plenary on Wednesday, disclosing that 30 State Houses of Assembly had approved the bill, surpassing the constitutional requirement of at least 24 states.
Bamidele said the widespread endorsement demonstrated growing support for the establishment of state police forces as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s security challenges.
The states that have approved the bill include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, however, urged lawmakers to allow the remaining six states additional time to consider the proposed amendment before the legislative process is concluded.
Akpabio said any State House of Assembly that failed to communicate its decision by 15 November would be regarded as having withheld its approval.
The Senate unanimously endorsed the position, effectively setting a final deadline for outstanding responses.
Under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, constitutional amendments generally require approval by at least two-thirds of members of each chamber of the National Assembly and resolutions from at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly.
The proposed amendment seeks to provide a constitutional framework for the establishment of state police, a longstanding demand by governors and other stakeholders seeking greater decentralisation of policing responsibilities.
Although the reported 30 state approvals exceed the constitutional threshold, the amendment must still complete the required legislative procedures before being presented to the President for assent.