Politics · Other · 13 hrs ago
30 Nigerian State Assemblies Approve State Police Proposal
Thirty Nigerian state assemblies approved state police, exceeding the constitutional threshold of 24 out of 36.
The National Assembly must now amend the constitution to allow state police alongside the Nigeria Police Force.
The constitution currently bars any other police force, and calls for decentralised policing have continued for decades.
Supporters argue that one national force cannot adequately protect a population of more than 250 million amid widespread kidnapping, terrorism and killings.
The proposed state forces would need careful recruitment, proper training, strong funding and independent oversight of hiring.
State police should not become armed vigilante groups or repeat problems such as rights violations, bribery and neglect of duty.
The assemblies’ approval clears the way for the National Assembly to take up the constitutional change, but no timeline is given.
Thirty of Nigeria’s 36 state Houses of Assembly have approved a proposal for state police.
The approval exceeds the constitutional threshold of 24 state legislatures.
The National Assembly can now proceed with amending Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits police forces other than the Nigeria Police Force.
The proposal follows decades of calls for decentralised policing amid severe insecurity.
Premium Times says state police should have independent recruitment oversight, proper training and robust funding.
- Who
- Thirty state Houses of Assembly in Nigeria approved the proposal.
- What
- The assemblies approved a proposal for state police, meeting the constitutional threshold for the National Assembly to proceed with a constitutional amendment.
- When
- Not stated.
- Where
- Nigeria.
- Why
- Supporters of decentralised policing argue it could improve security and policing effectiveness.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Approving assemblies
- 30 state Houses of Assembly
- Constitutional threshold
- 24 of 36 state legislatures
- Constitutional provision
- Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution
- Next step
- The National Assembly can proceed with a constitutional amendment
What people are saying
States not ready to satisfy these critical conditions should steer clear of state police.
Policing has become both a social and scientific enterprise.