The Bill should not be sacrificed on the altar of legislative complacency, writes TOCHUKWU JIMO OBI
Nigeria’s worsening safety challenges demand pressing, sensible and far-reaching reforms, but the pointless delays by the vast majority of State Houses of Assembly in approving the constitutional modification for the institution of State Police have gotten more and more worrisome. At a time when communities throughout the nation proceed to grapple with banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, armed theft and different violent crimes, it’s disappointing {that a} legislative course of able to strengthening the nation’s safety structure is but to obtain the urgency it deserves. The query is now not whether or not Nigeria wants a extra decentralised policing system, however why these entrusted with the accountability of facilitating this reform seem reluctant to behave with the pace required.
The National Assembly transmitted the proposed constitutional modification to the 36 State Houses of Assembly on 16 September 2026, setting in movement one other essential stage within the effort to ascertain State Police. However, as of 15 October 2026, solely 4 states, specifically Edo, Oyo, Osun and Rivers, had formally permitted the proposed modification by their respective State Houses of Assembly. This is a disappointing improvement contemplating that approval by at the very least 24 of the 36 state legislatures is constitutionally required for the related constitutional modification to proceed. With simply 4 states having reportedly given their approval, the nation stays a substantial distance from the required threshold, elevating severe questions in regards to the dedication of many state legislatures to a reform that might considerably affect Nigeria’s safety future.
Although another states have expressed assist for State Police in precept, verbal endorsements and political declarations are usually not substitutes for legislative motion. The constitutional modification course of requires the respective State Houses of Assembly to think about the proposal and formally talk their choices. Consequently, governors, lawmakers and political leaders who’ve publicly advocated State Police should display that dedication by concrete motion. It will not be sufficient to inform Nigerians that the current policing association is insufficient whereas the legislative alternative to alter it stays unattended. The time has come for state legislatures to maneuver past expressions of assist and discharge their constitutional obligations with out pointless hesitation.
More regarding is the truth that electioneering campaigns are approaching, and lots of State Houses of Assembly could commit growing consideration to political actions on the expense of legislative enterprise. If the present tempo continues, the proposed modification may undergo additional delays as lawmakers turn into preoccupied with political consultations, celebration pursuits and preparations for forthcoming elections. This chance is especially troubling as a result of constitutional modification processes require the fulfilment of particular authorized and procedural necessities. The alternative earlier than the assemblies ought to due to this fact not be handled as an peculiar legislative matter that may be postponed indefinitely. Every day misplaced to avoidable delays brings the nation no nearer to the safety reform it urgently wants.
Nigeria’s safety challenges have turn into too advanced for a policing construction that depends predominantly on a centralised federal pressure managed from Abuja. The Nigeria Police Force has personnel who work beneath tough circumstances, typically with restricted sources, whereas confronting safety threats throughout an unlimited and various nation. However, a single nationwide construction can not at all times present the native intelligence, speedy response and group familiarity required to sort out each safety problem successfully. State Police, if correctly established and controlled, may complement federal policing by bettering native intelligence gathering, strengthening group partnerships and enabling safety responses that mirror the peculiar circumstances of particular person states. Nigeria wants a number of, coordinated layers of policing quite than an association that locations an amazing burden on one central establishment.
Nevertheless, the institution of State Police should be accompanied by sturdy constitutional safeguards, skilled requirements, satisfactory funding and efficient accountability mechanisms. Concerns that state governors may misuse native police formations in opposition to political opponents, intimidate critics or persecute susceptible communities shouldn’t be dismissed. Instead, such issues ought to inform the design of an efficient authorized framework that ensures operational professionalism, respect for elementary rights and impartial oversight. Federal and state police formations should function inside clearly outlined jurisdictions, with mechanisms to forestall political interference and resolve interagency conflicts. These safeguards, nevertheless, shouldn’t turn into excuses for indefinite legislative inaction. The applicable response to professional issues is to deal with them by sound laws, to not abandon or frustrate the reform.
Governors even have an necessary function to play in accelerating the method. Given the political affect many governors train inside their respective states and the relationships they preserve with lawmakers elected on their celebration platforms, they will use their affect constructively to encourage immediate consideration of the proposed modification.
They ought to interact their State Houses of Assembly, assist knowledgeable legislative debate and assist take away avoidable obstacles to approval. Such engagement should respect the constitutional independence of the legislatures, however it ought to equally mirror a shared dedication to public security.
Governors who’ve repeatedly demanded improved safety from the Federal Government must be ready to display the identical urgency in their very own states by serving to to advance the constitutional course of quite than permitting political calculations to frustrate it.
The accountability now rests squarely on the shoulders of the State Houses of Assembly to deal with the pending State Police Bill as a matter of pressing nationwide significance. Their members have been elected to characterize the pursuits of their constituents, and safety stays probably the most elementary obligations of presidency. They ought to due to this fact schedule the required sittings, undertake thorough however well timed deliberations, seek the advice of related stakeholders the place applicable and talk their choices with out avoidable delay. The National Assembly additionally wants the required state approvals to finish the related levels of the constitutional modification course of. Every state that helps the reform should translate its place into formal legislative motion. Nigerians shouldn’t have to attend indefinitely for his or her elected representatives to behave on a problem that immediately impacts their security and livelihoods.
Ultimately, the pending State Police Bill presents Nigeria’s political management with a possibility to display that nationwide safety takes priority over partisan pursuits and electoral ambitions. Members of the State Houses of Assembly should realise that that is the time to behave, to not postpone, politicise or frustrate a reform whose potential advantages deserve severe consideration. The 4 states which have reportedly permitted the modification have taken an necessary step, however their efforts won’t be adequate with out the participation of at the very least 20 extra state legislatures. History will choose the current technology of lawmakers not merely by the speeches they ship about insecurity, however by the selections they take to deal with it. The message is obvious: the State Police Bill should not be sacrificed on the altar of legislative complacency. Nigeria’s safety scenario calls for urgency, accountability and decisive motion from each state legislature.
Obi writes from Obosi, Anambra State
