Senators prioritise state police in constitution review
Senators have defended the decision to prioritise state police in the constitution review, citing worsening insecurity as the overriding concern.
Senators have defended the National Assembly’s decision to prioritise constitutional amendments on the establishment of state police, saying the country’s worsening insecurity makes the proposal an urgent national priority. The lawmakers gave the clarification in response to concerns that the National Assembly appeared to be focusing more on state police than on other constitutional amendment proposals. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said insecurity remained the foremost concern of Nigerians.
The Senate leader, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, said the 10th National Assembly could not afford to downplay issues relating to state police. He noted that the issue was coming at a time when security challenges continued to threaten lives and property across the country. Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro dismissed suggestions that other amendment proposals had been abandoned, explaining that the committee had deliberately segmented the process to fast-track urgent issues.
“We’re taking the state police now, while other constitutional amendment proposals will follow very soon,” Moro said. Ali Ndume, who chairs the Senate Committee on Army, said he had consistently advocated not only for state police but also for local government police to strengthen grassroots security. “Security is number one,” he said. “Anything that will improve the security of this country should be supported.”
The push for state police is the most significant security reform proposal since the establishment of the National Security Council in the 1990s. The last time Nigeria attempted to decentralise policing was during the 1979 Constitution, which allowed for state police but never implemented it. The current proposal faces resistance from those who fear state governors will abuse the power. But the senators argue that the status quo is no longer acceptable. The debate is now about the details, not the principle.
Winners: Senators pushing for state police, Nigerians who want better security.
Losers: The Nigeria Police Force (which faces competition), state governors (who must fund the new police forces).
Bottom Line: The senators are right that security is the priority — but state police is not a magic bullet, and the details of implementation will determine whether it succeeds or fails.