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 duty 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 important stage within the effort to ascertain State Police. However, as of 15 October 2026, solely 4 states, particularly Edo, Oyo, Osun and Rivers, had formally permitted the proposed modification by their respective State Houses of Assembly. This is a disappointing growth contemplating that approval by no less than 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 concerning the dedication of many state legislatures to a reform that would considerably affect Nigeria’s safety future.
Although another states have expressed help for State Police in precept, verbal endorsements and political declarations usually are 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 selections. Consequently, governors, lawmakers and political leaders who’ve publicly advocated State Police should exhibit 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 help and discharge their constitutional tasks with out pointless hesitation.
More regarding is the truth that electioneering campaigns are approaching, and plenty of State Houses of Assembly might commit growing consideration to political actions on the expense of legislative enterprise. If the present tempo continues, the proposed modification may endure 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 bizarre 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 power managed from Abuja. The Nigeria Police Force has personnel who work below tough circumstances, usually with restricted assets, whereas confronting safety threats throughout an enormous and various nation. However, a single nationwide construction can not all the time present the native intelligence, fast response and group familiarity required to deal with 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 replicate the peculiar circumstances of particular person states. Nigeria wants a number of, coordinated layers of policing moderately than an association that locations an amazing burden on one central establishment.
Nevertheless, the institution of State Police have to be accompanied by sturdy constitutional safeguards, skilled requirements, ample funding and efficient accountability mechanisms. Concerns that state governors may misuse native police formations towards 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 basic rights and unbiased oversight. Federal and state police formations should function inside clearly outlined jurisdictions, with mechanisms to stop political interference and resolve interagency conflicts. These safeguards, nevertheless, mustn’t turn into excuses for indefinite legislative inaction. The applicable response to legit issues is to deal with them by sound laws, to not abandon or frustrate the reform.
Governors even have an necessary position to play in accelerating the method. Given the political affect many governors train inside their respective states and the relationships they keep with lawmakers elected on their celebration platforms, they’ll use their affect constructively to encourage immediate consideration of the proposed modification.
They ought to interact their State Houses of Assembly, help knowledgeable legislative debate and assist take away avoidable obstacles to approval. Such engagement should respect the constitutional independence of the legislatures, nevertheless it ought to equally replicate a shared dedication to public security.
Governors who’ve repeatedly demanded improved safety from the Federal Government must be ready to exhibit the identical urgency in their very own states by serving to to advance the constitutional course of moderately than permitting political calculations to frustrate it.
The duty 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 symbolize the pursuits of their constituents, and safety stays one of the basic tasks 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 selections 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 mustn’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 chance to exhibit 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 enough with out the participation of no less than 20 extra state legislatures. History will decide the current era of lawmakers not merely by the speeches they ship about insecurity, however by the selections they take to deal with it. The message is evident: the State Police Bill should not be sacrificed on the altar of legislative complacency. Nigeria’s safety scenario calls for urgency, duty and decisive motion from each state legislature.
Obi writes from Obosi, Anambra State
