Tinubu Sends State Police Bill To Senate, Seeks Constitutional Amendment For Decentralised Policing

Tinubu sends State Police Bill to Senate, seeks constitutional amendment for decentralised policing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted a constitutional amendment bill to the Nigerian Senate seeking the establishment of state police across Nigeria as part of efforts to decentralise the country’s policing system. The proposed legislation, currently before the National Assembly, aims to amend relevant provisions of the Constitution to allow individual states to establish and operate their own police services alongside existing federal security agencies. The move represents one of the most significant security reform proposals in recent years and comes amid growing calls from state governments, traditional rulers, security experts, and civil society groups for a more localised approach to policing. Supporters of state police argue that decentralised law enforcement would improve intelligence gathering, enhance rapid response to security threats, and address challenges such as banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes, and other crimes that vary across regions. According to details of the proposal, the constitutional amendment seeks to create a legal framework defining the powers, responsibilities, funding mechanisms, oversight structures, and operational relationship between federal and state police formations. The bill is expected to undergo legislative scrutiny in both chambers of the National Assembly, where lawmakers will debate its implications for national security, federalism, and governance. Advocates of the reform maintain that Nigeria’s current centrally controlled policing structure has struggled to effectively meet the security demands of the country’s diverse and expansive population. However, critics have previously expressed concerns that state police could be abused by political leaders, raising questions about safeguards needed to ensure accountability, professionalism, and respect for human rights. If approved by the National Assembly and ratified by the required number of state Houses of Assembly, the amendment would mark a major shift in Nigeria’s security architecture and could pave the way for the establishment of state-controlled police services across the federation.The proposal is expected to generate extensive national debate as stakeholders weigh its potential benefits and challenges in addressing Nigeria’s evolving security needs.