House of Reps Drops State Police Bill, Adopts President Tinubu’s Executive Version

 

By Ayekooto Media News Desk

Tajudeen Abass The Speaker House of Representatives 

ABUJA— In a major legislative pivot, the House of Representatives has rescinded its earlier resolution on the passage of the State Police Bill. The lower legislative chamber has officially withdrawn its own proposed legislation in favor of a fresh executive version transmitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The reversal occurred during Tuesday’s plenary after Francis Waive, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, moved a motion to reconsider the bill. 

According to Waive, emerging facts and new considerations regarding the structure and framework of State Police Services necessitated a critical review. He emphasized that the reversal was required to ensure the legislation perfectly aligns with the country’s evolving national security architecture. Following the motion, the House dissolved the conference committee that was previously established to harmonize the legislation with the Senate’s version.

Tinubu’s Executive Blueprint

The legislative shift was triggered by official correspondence from President Tinubu, which was read on the floor by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas. 

In his letter, President Tinubu presented the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, seeking a clear constitutional pathway for the establishment of State Police Services.

The President noted that his executive bill builds upon the significant groundwork already laid by the House but incorporates crucial additional safeguards. These safeguards are designed to ensure that a dual policing structure can be achieved quickly and effectively to combat the nation’s security challenges.

"The proposed legislation is a critical component of our administration’s strategy to reorganize Nigeria’s security architecture and strengthen the protection of citizens," Tinubu stated, urging the parliament to grant the bill expeditious consideration.

Following the reading, the House promptly considered the President's version, passing it through the first and second readings.

What the New Bill Means for Nigeria

Currently, policing and all government security services fall exclusively under the purview of the Federal Government. The proposed executive legislation seeks to fundamentally change this structure:

Power Shift: The bill will move policing powers from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List. This empowers both the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly to legislate on security matters.

Federal vs. State Roles: The National Assembly will retain the power to prescribe the structure, administration, and powers of the Federal Police, while simultaneously establishing the national guidelines for State Police Services.

State Compliance: No State Police Service can commence operations unless it is formally established by a law enacted by that specific State’s House of Assembly and certified to meet the minimum national standards prescribed by the National Assembly.

The Next Steps

The Senate already passed its version of the state police bill on June 24 following a similar request from the President. If this new alteration bill successfully passes the House of Representatives, it will be transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly. 

To become law, the constitution alteration bill must be approved by at least 24 state assemblies before it can be returned to President Tinubu for his final presidential assent.

        __About the Publisher:__

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