The Nigerian Senate has set a deadline for state houses of assembly to transmit their resolutions regarding the proposal for state police. This move is intended to accelerate the legislative process required to address the long-standing calls for the decentralisation of law enforcement in the country.
According to Senate officials, several states have yet to submit their formal positions on the matter. The states identified as lagging are Kano, Oyo, Cross River, Abia, Niger, and Benue.
The push for state policing has become a central theme in Nigeria’s security discourse. Proponents argue that the current centralised structure, where the Nigeria Police Force operates under the control of the Federal Government, limits the ability of regional authorities to respond effectively to local security threats, including banditry, kidnapping, and communal clashes.
The Senate’s decision to impose a deadline follows a period of consultation with various state governments to gauge their readiness and official stance on the constitutional amendments necessary to permit state-level policing.
Legislative requirements for security decentralisation
The requirement for state assemblies to transmit resolutions is a procedural necessity to ensure that any constitutional changes reflecting a shift in policing models have the requisite support from sub-national legislatures. Without these resolutions, the Senate faces challenges in determining the level of national consensus required to move the legislative framework forward.
The six states—Kano, Oyo, Cross River, Abia, Niger, and Benue—now face pressure to deliberate on the proposal within their respective assemblies. The delay in these states could potentially stall the broader legislative timeline, affecting the federal government’s ability to implement proposed security reforms.
For many governors, the debate over state police is tied to the issues of autonomy and the efficiency of resource allocation for security. While several states have welcomed the idea as a means to bolster local intelligence and rapid response, others have expressed concerns regarding the financial implications of maintaining a new police force and the potential for political misuse of state-controlled security agencies.
The Senate’s deadline is expected to force a decision within these six states, determining whether they will participate in the upcoming phase of the legislative process or remain sidelined in the debate over Nigeria’s security architecture. The next step will depend on whether these assemblies can convene and reach a consensus before the set timeframe expires.
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