Senate Defends State Police Bill
Senate says the State Police Bill resulted from national consultations and broad support to improve security across Nigeria.
The State Police Bill reflects broad national support and aims to address Nigeria’s growing security challenges, the Senate has said.
The Senate has defended the passage of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, insisting that the proposal is based on national interest rather than political motives. The Red Chamber approved the State Police Bill on Wednesday after more than two-thirds of senators voted in favour.
Although many stakeholders, including the speakers of the 36 state Houses of Assembly, welcomed the decision, some groups expressed concerns that state police could be misused by governors and worsen insecurity.
Responding to the criticism, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele described the State Police Bill as a necessary response to Nigeria’s security situation. He said the proposal emerged from memoranda submitted during the review of the 1999 Constitution and passed through extensive consultations and careful scrutiny before its approval.
According to Bamidele, the National Assembly consulted the Executive, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, the Nigeria Police, and other key stakeholders. He added that participants at public hearings held across the six geopolitical zones in July 2025 overwhelmingly supported the proposal.
“At each level of our consultation, nearly all stakeholders embraced the State Police Bill in the light of stark realities we are facing today,” he said.
Bamidele explained that recommendations from the Nigeria Police helped shape accountability and oversight measures designed to prevent abuse. He also noted that the bill received bipartisan backing, with 84 of the Senate’s 109 members voting in support.
He urged opposition parties to contribute practical ideas that would strengthen national security and promote lasting peace instead of focusing on political differences.
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