House of Reps Passes Bill for Second Reading, Seeking to Amend Constitution to Allow State Police

The House of Representatives has approved a bill for the second reading, aiming to amend the 1999 constitution to permit the establishment of state police by the 36 states in the federation.

Sponsored by Ben Kalu and 14 others, the bill comprises 18 clauses intending to amend 14 sections of the constitution, notably to transfer police from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list.

This shift would allow both state and federal governments to establish a police force.

During the debate on Tuesday, Muktar Shagaya, presenting the bill on behalf of the co-sponsors, emphasized the necessity of state police, describing it as not only a matter of federalism but an exigency of the time.

He highlighted the need for a decentralized and community-oriented approach to law enforcement to address the nation’s security challenges.

Chief Whip Bello Kumo raised concerns about the prolonged military rule, which led to the neglect of the police force, questioning the federal government’s inability to adequately fund and recruit personnel for the police.

While many members expressed support for the bill, acknowledging the need for state police, some, like Sada Soli and Obinna Aguocha, raised concerns about the potential for abuse by governors and the impact on trade flow, respectively.

After a voice vote, the bill was passed and referred to the Committee on Constitution Review for further consideration.