The Special Ad-hoc Committee of the House of Representative on Constitution Review, chaired by Benjamin Kalu is likely to meet on Monday(today) to deliberate on the State Police Bill sent to the House last week by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The bill containing 26 clauses was sent to the lower house of Nigeria’s Legislature by the president to replace the one initiated by the House, which has now been withdrawn.
The Executive Bill is seeking to amend Sections 84(4), 89(2), 121(3b) by inserting a new subsection (3c), 124(4), 129(2), 153(1), 157(2), 158(1), 160 by inserting immediately after subsection (2) a new subsection (3), 197(1), 201(2) and 204 of the 1999 Constitution.
The president is also seeking the amendment of Chapter VI Part III of the 1999 Constitution, deletion and substitution of Section 214, 215, 216, Second Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, Part I of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, Part III of the 1999 Constitution, Part III of the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, Section 318(1), respectively.
According to the details provided by the president, it’s expected that these sections of the 1999 Constitution will be amended to create a dual policing system, with the Federal Police Service retaining responsibility for federal policing, while states will be expected to establish and operate their respective police services to oversee their own police.
The Bill also provides for the creation of State Police Service Commissions to oversee the appointment, discipline and administration of personnel at the state level.
According to the legislative framework provided by the president, the bill seeks to preserves the Federal Police Service as the default police service in any State until a State Police Service is lawfully established and certified operational, and preserves the continuing federal policing role in every State and in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
“The Bill establishes constitutional guardrails for civilian control, human rights, national minimum standards, independent police service commissions, intergovernmental cooperation, criminal information systems, firearms control, and exceptional federal intervention in State policing in cases of breakdown, serious incapacity, national security threat, or egregious abuse,” according to the details provide in the legislative framework sent the House by the president.
On July 14, President Tinubu sent the State Police Amendment Bill to the House of Representative, saying the proposed framework was aimed at addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges through a more responsive and efficient policing structure.
“This Bill builds on the significant work already done in this regard by the House of Representatives and incorporates additional safeguards to ensure that the creation of a dual policing structure to address our nation’s evolving national security challenges can be achieved quickly and effectively to the benefit of all Nigerians,” Tinubu said.
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