The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday passed a bill to allow the establishment of state police in the country.
The red chamber approved the bill after considering the report of its Committee on the Review of the Constitution, presented by Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who is also the committee chairman.
This comes 24 hours after President Bola Tinubu transmitted a bill for the amendment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 constitution to allow for a decentralized policing system in the country.
Tinubu had in his letter read at the floor of the upper chamber by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio, said the bill builds on earlier legislative efforts by both chambers of the National Assembly and provides protections to ensure the adoption of a decentralised policing system.
After reading the letter, Akpabio forwarded the bill to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review for further legislative action.
During Wednesday’s sitting, the bill’s clauses were considered at the Committee of the Whole and secured the required constitutional threshold for passage.
The Senate President announced the passage of the bill after more than two-thirds of senators voted in support through a manual voting process.
The senators voted in support of the bill through a manual voting process in which they raised their hands.
The debate on the bill was led by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.
The bill seeks a constitutional framework that allows decentralization of policing powers and legally allows states to run their own forces alongside the federal Nigeria Police Force.
Clause 17 of the bill contains a key provision which deals with the appointment, command, direction and tenure of police leadership at both federal and state levels.
The clause provides that while the Federal Police Service will continue to be headed by the Inspector-General of Police, each State Police Service will be led by a Commissioner of Police appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State House of Assembly.
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Section 17(6) specifically provides that:
“A Governor of a State may give to the Commissioner of Police of that State lawful written directives of a general nature with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order within the State.”
To prevent abuse of the police institution, the lawmakers inserted a provision in Section 17(7), which states that a state Commissioner of Police may not arrest, detain, investigate, or use force against any person, political party, or group for criticizing the government unless authorized by law.
This section is meant to restrict the use of state police against political opponents or critics, ensuring that any action taken against such individuals or groups is in accordance with due process and applicable laws.
