The House of Representatives has commenced a clause-by-clause consideration of President Bola Tinubu’s executive bill seeking the establishment of state police, marking another significant step toward reforming Nigeria’s security architecture.
Lawmakers, meeting under the House Committee on Constitution Review, indicated that they may adopt the Senate-approved version of the bill with only minor amendments to speed up its passage.
Deputy Speaker of the House and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Benjamin Kalu, said the House intends to build on the work already completed by the Senate to ensure the timely passage of what he described as a priority constitutional amendment.
Kalu recalled that the House had previously passed its own Constitution Alteration Bill on state police on June 11 before proceeding on recess. However, lawmakers later rescinded that decision on July 14 following the transmission of President Tinubu’s executive bill, paving the way for its consideration.
He explained that, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Tinubu is well-positioned to initiate comprehensive security reforms capable of addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
According to Kalu, the executive bill has already passed its first and second readings in the House, while stakeholder engagements held during the National Assembly Open Week effectively satisfied the public hearing requirement for the proposed legislation.
“The bill has been referred to this committee, and the committee is not just the Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Chairman. The committee is you and I. Our responsibility is to carefully scrutinise this legislation and ensure that it reflects the aspirations and expectations of the Nigerian people,” he said.
The deputy speaker described the proposed state police legislation as one of President Tinubu’s signature constitutional reform initiatives, noting that the President has consistently advocated a multi-layered policing system since serving as Governor of Lagos State.
He added that the executive, legislature and judiciary remain united in pursuing national priorities, particularly improving security across the country.
Kalu also revealed that members of the committee convened outside the House’s regular parliamentary schedule because of the urgency attached to the bill, stressing the need for close collaboration between both chambers of the National Assembly.
He disclosed that the Senate-approved version of the executive bill would serve as the committee’s working document during the clause-by-clause review.
According to him, the executive bill is largely similar to the version earlier considered by the House, with only a few additions, including provisions on interpretation, transitional arrangements and saving clauses to facilitate the implementation of a state policing framework.
The Senate also introduced about eight minor amendments, which the House Committee will examine and adopt where appropriate.
The ongoing review represents a major milestone in Nigeria’s constitutional amendment process as lawmakers work towards creating a constitutionally recognised multi-tier policing system aimed at strengthening internal security and improving law enforcement across the federation.