The House of Representatives has initiated a clause-by-clause review of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bill to establish state police. Lawmakers plan to integrate the Senate’s version of the proposal, making only minor adjustments to speed up the legislative process.
Deputy Speaker and Constitution Review Committee Chairman, Benjamin Kalu, stated that the House intends to build upon the work completed by the Senate to accelerate this essential security reform. Although the House had previously approved its own version of the bill in June, members rescinded that vote in July to prioritize the President’s executive proposal.
Kalu noted that the executive bill has already cleared the first and second readings. Extensive public feedback gathered during the National Assembly Open Week has satisfied the requirements for public consultation, allowing the committee to proceed with its scrutiny. The Deputy Speaker highlighted that President Tinubu has long supported multi-layered policing, dating back to his time as Governor of Lagos State.
The committee is prioritizing this review despite the current parliamentary break. Kalu emphasized that while the three branches of government are distinct, they are working in unison to address Nigeria’s security challenges. The House is using the Senate-approved draft as its primary working document, which includes approximately eight minor amendments related to interpretations and transitional clauses.
This initiative represents a major movement toward creating a constitutional framework for a multi-tiered policing system intended to bolster national security.
