Benue Assembly passes state police invoice, seeks constitutional amendment
The Benue State House of Assembly has handed a invoice looking for to amend the Nigerian Constitution to permit the institution of state police, including its voice to ongoing efforts to decentralise policing and tackle the nation’s safety challenges.
The invoice was authorised throughout Tuesday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, Alfred Emberga, following deliberations led by the House Majority Leader, Peter Ipusu.
Ipusu urged lawmakers to expedite consideration of the proposed amendment, arguing that state police would strengthen intelligence gathering on the grassroots, enhance responses to safety emergencies and improve regulation enforcement.
He maintained that decentralised policing might assist deal with safety threats, together with rural banditry, farmer-herder conflicts and concrete crime, whereas creating employment alternatives and selling accountability.
The proposed amendment seeks to ascertain a constitutional framework for state police providers alongside the Federal Police Service, with provisions addressing their obligations, funding and operations.
Following the passage of the invoice, Speaker Emberga directed the Clerk of the House to speak the Assembly’s determination to the National Assembly for additional legislative motion.
Under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, constitutional amendments typically require approval by a minimum of two-thirds of the members of every chamber of the National Assembly and resolutions supported by a minimum of two-thirds of all State Houses of Assembly earlier than being introduced to the President for assent.
In a associated growth, the Assembly handed the Free Eye Screening and Cataract Surgery Bill, sponsored by Simon Gabo, representing Mata State Constituency, for first studying.
Emberga directed the Standing Committee on Rules and Business to organize the proposed laws for additional consideration.
The two payments have been among the many main selections taken by the lawmakers throughout Tuesday’s plenary session on October 20, 2026.
