The House of Representatives has officially started a detailed review of President Bola Tinubu’s executive bill aimed at establishing state police. Lawmakers suggested they may adopt the version of the legislation previously passed by the Senate, incorporating only minor modifications to speed up the process. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, stated that utilizing the Senate’s framework would help accelerate the passage of this essential constitutional amendment.
Kalu noted that the House had originally passed its own state police bill on June 11, but rescinded that action on July 14 to prioritize President Tinubu’s executive proposal. He argued that the President is uniquely positioned to spearhead security reforms to counter Nigeria’s shifting security landscape. The executive bill has successfully passed its first and second readings, and public engagement requirements have already been satisfied through the National Assembly Open Week.
Highlighting the historical context, Kalu mentioned that President Tinubu has long supported multi-layered policing, dating back to his time as the Governor of Lagos State. The Deputy Speaker emphasized that the legislative and executive branches are working in unison to address national security concerns. The committee held a special session on Monday, outside of normal sitting hours, to demonstrate the urgency of the matter.
The committee is currently using the Senate-approved version of the bill as its primary working document. Kalu explained that the executive bill is largely similar to the previous version the House considered, with the addition of specific transitional, interpretative, and consequential clauses. The committee plans to review the eight minor amendments made by the Senate and incorporate them as necessary to finalize the legislation, which serves as a major milestone in the ongoing constitutional reform process.
