The Plateau State House of Assembly on Tuesday authorised the constitutional modification bill to ascertain state police in Nigeria, advancing efforts to decentralise policing amid persistent safety challenges throughout the nation.
The lawmakers adopted the suggestions of an advert hoc committee on the bill throughout plenary, following the presentation of its report by the committee’s chairman, Theodore Maiyaki, who represents Qua’an-Pan South Constituency.
The Speaker, Naanlong Daniel, presided over the sitting the place lawmakers endorsed the proposal, which seeks to offer a constitutional framework for establishing state police companies alongside the Nigeria Police Force.
Presenting the committee’s report, Mr Maiyaki mentioned the proposed reform would assist tackle Nigeria’s safety challenges, deal with manpower shortages within the police power and enhance policing on the neighborhood stage.
He mentioned strengthening the nation’s safety structure was mandatory to enhance responses to safety threats and defend lives and property.
The committee additionally highlighted the significance of safety to socioeconomic improvement in Plateau State and the nation at giant.
Following deliberations, the lawmakers adopted the committee’s suggestions and voted in favour of the proposed constitutional modification.
The approval comes amid persistent safety issues in Plateau, the place assaults on communities have prompted repeated requires stronger safety deployments, improved intelligence gathering and more practical responses to threats.
In September, the Assembly started contemplating the proposed modification after the National Assembly transmitted a communication by Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
At the time, Mr Daniel mentioned state police might complement the Nigeria Police Force and strengthen safety coordination on the state and neighborhood ranges.
The proposal, referred to as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, seeks to offer the constitutional foundation for establishing state police companies.
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The proposed reform is a part of broader efforts to restructure Nigeria’s safety structure amid issues concerning the centralised policing system’s capacity to reply adequately to safety threats throughout the nation.
Under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, amending the Constitution requires approval by no less than two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly, representing 24 of Nigeria’s 36 states.
Plateau’s approval subsequently contributes to the continued technique of securing the required legislative assist from the states.
During the identical sitting, the Assembly additionally handed two different payments for first studying.
They are the Plateau State Right of Patients and Medical Institutions Bill and the Plateau State Bill on Jungle Justice, Mob Action and Other Forms of Unlawful Violence Against Persons.
The payments will proceed to subsequent phases of legislative consideration in accordance with the House’s guidelines.
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