Tinubu sends the Draft Law on Amendments to the Constitution of the State Police to the Senate
President Bola Tinubu has officially forwarded the constitutional amendment bill to the Senate seeking legal support for the establishment state policesignaling a new push to overhaul Nigeria’s security structure.
The proposed law seeks to amend parts of the 1999 Constitution enable individual states to create and manage their own police organizations within a regulated framework.
Renewed calls for decentralization of security
The latest move comes in the context of worsening security challenges in parts of the country and growing demands for a police system that gives states more control over internal security matters.
Tinubu has on several occasions argued that the current security arrangement needs restructuring to enable closer collaboration between the federal and state governments in the fight against crime.
Earlier this year, the president urged lawmakers to support constitutional changes that would pave the way for state police, saying the measure was necessary to combat terrorism, banditry, kidnappings and other criminal activities.
The Senate is ready for a key debate
In his Democracy Day speech, Tinubu asserted that his administration remains committed to restoring peace and security across the country.
He said thousands of terrorists had been eliminated in the past year and pointed to a drop in the number of terrorism-related deaths.
However, the president admitted that the continued kidnapping of schoolchildren in some parts of the country shows that more work needs to be done to improve security operations.
The draft law comes at a time when the National Assembly is considering broader constitutional reforms, including proposals aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s security framework.
If the legislation secures the necessary support from legislators and state assemblies, governors would be empowered to establish police services tailored to the security needs of their states, subject to constitutional checks and oversight mechanisms.
State police advocates believe the system would improve intelligence gathering and ensure faster responses to local security threats.
Opponents, however, fear that state-controlled police formations could be used for political purposes.
The proposed law is expected to spark intense debates in the Senate as lawmakers consider its impact on Nigeria’s federal structure and the future of the country’s security governance.
