The Delta House of Assembly has approved the proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police services. The approval came on Tuesday during plenary. The Speaker, Dennis Guwor, read the National Assembly’s letter outlining the objectives of the proposed Sixth Alteration Bill. The bill seeks to establish state police services while retaining the Nigeria Police Force as the federal police service.
The 1999 Constitution places policing under exclusive federal control. The National Assembly has debated state police for years. In 2014, the National Conference recommended it. In 2023, an amendment attempt failed. Governors across parties have demanded decentralisation. The argument is that federal police cannot understand local terrain. The counter-argument is that governors will abuse state police for political ends. The current amendment is the latest attempt to resolve the impasse. Osun was the first state to approve it. Delta has now joined.
The Majority Leader, Emeka Nwaobi, led the debate. He said the amendment would strengthen the protection of lives and property through a dual policing system. He said it would enable state governments to establish and fund their own police services. He said it would tackle local security threats through prompt intervention and intelligence gathering.
Other lawmakers supported the proposal. They described state police as a significant step toward strengthening the country’s security architecture. They said it would improve local intelligence, ensure faster responses, create jobs and enhance community-level policing. The bill received unanimous support. Twenty-three lawmakers voted in favour.
Guwor commended the lawmakers. He said the proposal would strengthen grassroots policing and improve security across the state. He said improved security would boost investor confidence and promote economic growth in line with the state’s MORE Agenda. He directed the Clerk to communicate the assembly’s resolution to the National Assembly.
The House also appointed Ator Okolosi, member representing Udu Constituency, as Chairman of the House Committee on Trade and Investment. He was also appointed Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Works and Special Duties. Earlier, the lawmakers observed a minute’s silence in honour of former Delta governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who died on Monday, 19 October.
Winners: The Delta State Government, which gains a policing pathway. Lawmakers, who showed consensus. Communities, if security improves. The National Assembly, which gains state support. The police, if the dual system is properly coordinated. Losers: Critics who fear governors will abuse state police. The federal police, which loses monopoly. States that reject the amendment. Taxpayers, if state police duplicate costs without delivering security. Communities, if local forces become partisan.
Bottom Line: Delta approved state police. Twenty-three lawmakers voted yes. The amendment needs 24 states to pass. Delta is one. The debate is not over. The safeguards are not written. State police can protect or oppress. The difference is oversight.