The Senate and the House of Representatives would begin the harmonisation of the various versions of the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking the establishment of state police before sending the legislation to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for approval.

The bill had on June 10 been passed by the House of Representatives, while the Senate had on June 24 approved the Executive Bill transmitted by President Bola Tinubu.

Before being referred to the President for assent, the amendment to the constitution will have to be passed by not less than two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly of the states.

The Senate bill has 26 clauses while the House bill has 18. There are significant differences in several constitutional amendments proposed by both chambers.

A comparison of the two versions indicated that the House made limited amendments to Sections 34, 35, 39, 42, 89, 129, 153 and 197 of the Constitution, whereas the Senate amended Sections 84, 89, 121, 124, 129, 157, 158, 160, 197, 201 and 202.

Both chambers introduced a new section 214 to replace the existing constitutional provision for the establishment of the Nigeria Police Force. But the Senate added 15 new sub-clauses to the section, compared with seven in the House version.

The two chambers also differed in their views on the structure of Section 215, which deals with the appointment and control of the police.

The Senate named the provision “Appointment, Command, Direction and Tenure” and referred to the head of a state police command as “Commander” while the House retained the title “Appointment of Inspector-General of Police and Commissioner of Police of a State” and described the head of the state police as “Commissioner of Police.”

Similarly, both houses replaced Section 216 with brand new provisions but gave different duties.

The Senate referred the section as “National Police Standards, Oversight and Accountability” while the House called it “Removal of Inspector-General of Police and Commissioner of Police of a State.

The Senate version has also got seven transitional provisions for the establishment of state police and substantial amendments to the Second, Third and Fourth Schedules of the Constitution while the House amended only the Second and Third Schedules.

Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman, House Committee on Constitution Review, said a conference committee would be constituted after the House resumes from recess on July 7 to harmonise the differences

Akin Rotimi, the House spokesman, also confirmed that the committee would harmonise the two versions before the final document is sent to the states.

Kalu said the bill was the outcome of extensive consultations between the Executive and other stakeholders.

“Actually, it is an Executive Bill at the moment. We have taken care of it in the House of Representatives, and the Senate has done the same. “Where we are now is we’re going to have what we call the conference committee because we practise bicameral legislation,” he said.

He said the Senate and House versions are basically the same, with some drafting differences.

“There is no fundamental. “But we need to be in tandem for it to be a consolidated piece of legislation from National Assembly,” he added.

“I am sure that the harmonisation process will be finalised shortly after the lawmakers return,” Kalu said.

“When we come back from recess on July 7, the House will set up the conference committee. “If there is a need to convene an emergency meeting before that, the leadership of the National Assembly would consider it.”

When we’re done, we’re going to turn it back over to the states that same day. This will be a ceremonial handing over where we invite the Speakers of the state Houses of Assembly and formally hand to them the bill.

“I think the groundwork has been laid by the governors and it should be back within a week when it gets to them for Mr President’s assent,” he said.

The deputy speaker said the proposal had received wide support across the country, including from state governors and the Conference of Speakers, which has promised to ensure speedy consideration by state legislatures.

The proposed legislation, according to Kalu, has built-in safeguards to prevent governors from abusing the state police and to ensure compliance with national policing standards.

The minimum standards will be determined by the National Police Council. A State desiring to establish a police service shall meet such requirements prior to certification.

“States are free to go higher than those standards, but the minimum benchmark is needed to ensure professionalism and accountability,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the state was ready to establish its own police service once the bill becomes law. He noted that Lagos would draw from the experience of retired security chiefs to strengthen its security architecture.

The post Senate, House Of Representatives Approve Separate Versions Of State Police Bill appeared first on TheNigerian.

The Member representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chief Dr. Bishop Philip Agbese, has called on constituents to submit their views and recommendations on the proposed Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish State Police in Nigeria.
In a statement issued ahead of Thursday’s plenary session of the House of Representatives, Agbese described the consultation as a critical step towards ensuring that the position of the constituency is reflected in his vote on the bill.
According to the lawmaker, the National Assembly is scheduled to vote on the State Police proposal amid growing concerns over security challenges across the country.
He noted that the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police Force are currently overstretched due to the increasing security demands nationwide, making the consideration of State Police an important national conversation.
“The House of Representatives is voting today on the Constitution Alteration Bill for the establishment of State Police. Given the prevailing security challenges across the country, the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police Force are currently overstretched,” Agbese stated.
He explained that the State Police initiative is being proposed as an additional layer of security architecture aimed at strengthening local security response, improving intelligence gathering, and deepening the country’s federal structure while incorporating necessary safeguards against abuse.
The federal lawmaker emphasised that he remains committed to participatory representation and democratic consultation, stressing that the opinions of the people he represents would guide his decision on the floor of the House.
Agbese therefore urged all constituents to submit their feedback, views, and recommendations before the stipulated deadline of 10:00 a.m., assuring them that all submissions would be carefully aggregated and considered.
He added that the collective position of the constituency would serve as a guide in determining his vote during the plenary deliberations on the constitutional amendment bill.
The consultation has generated interest across the constituency, with many residents expected to contribute their perspectives on what could become a significant reform in Nigeria’s security framework.

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The House of Representatives has chosen Thursday, 11th June, as the date for voting on a constitutional amendment bill aimed at creating State Police in Nigeria.

Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, made the disclosure while speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.

All lawmakers were charged to be present at Thursday’s plenary to participate in the vote.

The lawmaker said the move is among measures to tackle the growing insecurity in the country. Kalu told the press briefing that the House had decided to give priority to the issue of state police over other bills.

He said the House has directed all members now out of Abuja for oversight to suspend such and return to the parliament on Thursday for the voting procedure.

The House bill on State Police is sponsored by the Deputy Speaker and 14 other House members.

Remember that last Thursday the Presidency had said that considerable progress had been made towards the establishment of state police in Nigeria.

The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, said constitutional amendments necessary for the implementation of state police were expected soon.

Gbajabiamila spoke after the Presidency convened a consultative meeting on state police at the State House, Abuja.

Gbajabiamila, in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said that discussions on the state police framework started several months ago, following a directive by President Tinubu.

He said the process had now come to the stage of thinking about the constitutional amendments needed.

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