Senator Jibrin Barau, Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman of the 10th Senate Committee on Constitution Review, has disclosed that the President will have constitutional power to suspend any state police unit that violates the law or threatens national security. This provision is part of the proposed constitutional amendment on state police, which the Senate passed before proceeding on recess. The bill, an Executive Bill forwarded by President Bola Tinubu, followed extensive consultations with the Inspector-General of Police, security experts and other stakeholders. Barau said the proposal aims to address long-standing public agitation for state police while incorporating safeguards against political abuse.
The bill establishes a State Police Service Commission responsible for appointments into state police leadership, with recommendations originating from the National Police Council. The Council includes the President, state governors and the Inspector-General of Police, ensuring collective input. Appointees will have legal protections against political interference. Policing standards will be set by the Constitution and Acts of the National Assembly, and state laws must align with these. Barau emphasized that state police operations cannot override federal authority. If a state police service acts in a manner that undermines constitutional provisions or national security, the President may suspend its operations, with the Federal Police stepping in temporarily.
Public hearings on the bill were conducted across the six geopolitical zones and at the national level, with inputs from state governments, civil society, professional bodies and citizens. Barau attributed the Senate's bipartisan support for the bill to its balanced approach—creating state police while embedding checks to prevent misuse. He credited President Tinubu for advancing the proposal, noting it reflects two schools of thought: one supporting state police for improved security, and another cautioning against potential for ethnic intimidation or human rights violations. The bill attempts to reconcile both views. Barau said the exact timeline for final passage cannot be determined, as each legislative chamber operates independently, but affirmed strong stakeholder commitment to expediting the process.
Senator Barau claims governors won't have unilateral control over state police appointments, yet the National Police Council includes all state governors alongside the President and the IGP—meaning political heavyweights still shape selections. The same bill that limits governors' power simultaneously grants the President authority to suspend state police units, creating an asymmetry in oversight. While safeguards are cited, the concentration of appointment influence within a body that includes serving politicians contradicts the claim of depoliticised oversight. This structure may shift rather than eliminate political control.
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