The House of Representatives has approved the State Police Bill following a sweeping vote on Thursday, advancing a major shift in Nigeria's security framework. The bill, which enables states to create and manage their own police forces alongside the national force, passed with 289 votes in favour and one opposed. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who did not vote, presided over the plenary session dedicated to the constitutional amendment. A total of 290 lawmakers were present, but the chamber's electronic voting system failed, forcing a manual count. The sole vote against the bill came from an unnamed member, while Abbas abstained. Proponents argue that state police will lead to faster response times, better local intelligence, and more tailored solutions to regional security issues such as banditry, kidnappings, and violent crime. During debate, Bashir Zubairu, representing the African Democratic Congress from Kaduna State, objected to the process, stating the committee report was distributed only on the day of the session. "Mr Speaker, this document was only made available to lawmakers in the chambers, and we are yet to go through it. We cannot do justice to it because we have not gone through it," he said. His point of order was overruled, and the House proceeded with clause-by-clause deliberations amid intermittent objections. Despite procedural concerns, the bill gained strong cross-party support, reflecting widespread consensus on the need for policing reform.
The bill passed with near-unanimous support, yet the Speaker's decision to override a member's objection over last-minute document release reveals a contradiction between democratic process and legislative speed. One lawmaker voiced concern about inadequate time to review the report, while 289 voted in favour without confirming whether they had read it. The malfunction of the electronic voting system further undermines confidence in the transparency of the process. A reform meant to build trust in security institutions was advanced through a procedure that bypassed standard review protocols.
💡 NaijaBuzz Take is AI-assisted editorial opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
