House Committee on Constitution Review to Debate State Policing in Nigeria

The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review is set to commence the alteration of the first 1999 constitution to create room for state policing.

This followed the passage of a bill for an act to alter the provision of the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria to provide for the establishment of the state police; and for related matters.

The bill was sponsored by Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Co-Sponsored by Hon. Julius Ihonvbere Hon. Onanuga A. Oriyomi Hon. Joseph Bassey Hon. Ibe Okwara-Osonwa, Hon. Thaddeus Attah Hon. Joshua Audu Gana Hon. Hassan B. Shinkafi Hon. Chinwe Clara Nnabuife Hon. Obed Paul Shehu Hon. Fatima Talba, Hon. Tolani Shagaya Hon. Abubakar H. Balaraba Hon. Blessing Onuh among others.

Leading the debate on the general principle of the bill, Hon. Tolani Shagaya said that the primary purpose of government as enshrined in Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Altered) is the security and welfare of the citizens.

Constant Adaptation

” In recent times, our collective security has been greatly challenged. Nigeria, a federation of 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, with 774 LGAs, over 250 ethnic nationalities, more than 200 million citizens and a vast terrain spanning over 920,000 square kilometres, still sadly operates a single centralised police system that employs less than 400,000 police officers and 1 men. There is no gainsaying that the nation’s security architecture is under immense pressure and always overwhelmed.”
He said they must accept that the fabric of any democracy is woven with the threads of constant adaptation to the evolving needs to tackle the situation.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Colleagues, this Bill emerges as a necessary response to several calls for a decentralised and community-oriented approach to law enforcement. It seeks to navigate the complex landscape of security challenges by empowering our states with the means to address issues unique to their localities. This proposed alteration represents not just a legal adjustment to our grundnorm, but a visionary leap towards a safer, more secure, and harmonious Nigeria,” he said.

Key Provisions of Bill
He also said that ” the Bill which comprises 18 clauses seek to alter Sections 34, 35, 39, 42, 84, 89 and 129 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Altered).

It also seeks to alter Sections 153, 197, 214, 215 and 216 of the Constitution. Furthermore, the Bill seeks to alter Chapter VI Part II, Second Schedule, Part ll of the Third Schedule and Part Il of the Third Schedule of the Constitution as well.

Lateefah Ibrahim