Tinubu sends State Police bill to Senate for constitutional review

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted a Constitution Alteration Bill to the Senate calling for the setting up of state police throughout the country.

This bill is expected to amend some of the existing provisions of the 1999 Constitution in order to lay down a framework for the implementation of the state police system in the country.

This is a very big step towards the restructuring of Nigeria’s security system and the empowerment of the state governments in ensuring law and order in their areas.

It should be noted that the President has always been calling for constitutional reforms in order to empower the states to take care of the security problem in the country. In February, President Tinubu called for constitutional amendments that will allow the creation of state police.

The President believes that state police forces would serve to complement the current federal security apparatus and respond effectively to acts of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and all other forms of crime.

It is argued that the formation of state police would help with the collection of intelligence, community-based security operations and respond to threats in a more timely manner.

On the other hand, the opponents of the bill fear that without appropriate checks and balances in the constitution, state police forces can be misused by political office holders to stifle dissenting voices.

The bill is expected to go through scrutiny from the two chambers of the National Assembly. Lawmakers are set to look at the implication of the bill on the Nigerian federal system of government and security architecture.

In the event that the bill passes through the National Assembly and the appropriate number of state legislatures, the amendment would allow for one of the most dramatic changes in the security sector since the restoration of democracy in Nigeria in 1999.