The Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR) has commended the Kogi State House of Assembly following the passage of a constitutional alteration bill for the establishment of state police. The organisation described the move as a significant step towards strengthening security across Nigeria.
By passing the bill, the Kogi legislature has contributed to the growing legislative push for the decentralisation of policing in the country. The CHRCR has called on the National Assembly to take swift action on the proposal to ensure that states gain the capacity to manage their local security needs.
The passage of the state police bill by the Kogi State House of Assembly comes amid intensified calls from various regional stakeholders for a departure from the current centralised policing model, which many argue is insufficient to tackle rising insecurity.
The path to constitutional amendment
While the Kogi State House of Assembly has passed the bill, the establishment of state police is not an immediate reality. Because the matter pertains to the structure of the federation, it requires a formal amendment to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
For the Kogi bill to progress, it must first undergo scrutiny and approval by the National Assembly. This involves a two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. If successful at the federal level, the amendment must then be ratified by at least two-thirds of the thirty-six State Houses of Assembly across the country before it can receive presidential assent.
The debate over state policing has been a recurring theme in Nigerian politics. Proponents of the move argue that local police forces would possess the necessary community intelligence to combat kidnapping, banditry, and communal clashes more effectively than the current centralised Nigeria Police Force. They contend that a decentralised model would bring security closer to the people.
However, the proposal faces opposition from those who fear that state-controlled police forces could be weaponised by governors for political purposes. Critics suggest that such a move might undermine national unity and lead to the creation of regional militias if not strictly regulated by federal oversight.
The CHRCR maintains that the Kogi legislative action provides a necessary template for other states to follow in the pursuit of regional security autonomy. The group expressed hope that the federal legislature would act without undue delay to address the security exigencies facing the nation.
The bill now awaits the next stage of the legislative process at the federal level.
Explore more News stories from Business Elites Africa.
