A major shift in Nigeria’s security governance framework could be on the horizon as members of the House of Representatives prepare to vote on a constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police, a proposal supporters believe could redefine how law enforcement is managed across the country.
The planned vote follows months of deliberations within the National Assembly’s constitutional review process in Abuja, where lawmakers have been examining reforms aimed at addressing persistent security challenges. House leaders say the proposal reflects growing concerns that the existing centrally controlled policing structure is struggling to respond effectively to increasingly complex threats facing communities nationwide.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, speaking on behalf of the House leadership, said legislators have engaged security agencies, service chiefs, financial institutions and other stakeholders while assessing options for strengthening national security. According to him, those consultations reinforced the need for structural changes capable of improving operational efficiency and decision-making at the local level.
The proposed amendment seeks to create a constitutional framework that would allow states to establish and manage their own police services. Advocates argue that decentralisation could improve intelligence gathering, speed up responses to criminal incidents and enable security strategies tailored to the realities of individual states. House leaders say support for the initiative has continued to grow among governors, security officials and members of the executive arm of government.
With the vote expected during a decisive plenary session, lawmakers have been urged to return from oversight assignments across the country to participate in the process. Kalu described the issue as one requiring urgent legislative attention, noting that citizens expect elected representatives to take meaningful steps toward improving public safety through policy reform.
If approved by the National Assembly, the amendment will move to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration and ratification before it can be transmitted for presidential assent. The outcome of the vote is being closely watched as it could mark one of the most significant constitutional changes to Nigeria’s security architecture since the return to democratic rule.
