The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has endorsed the Senate's passage of the State Police Bill for second reading, calling it a pivotal step toward enhancing security and advancing true federalism. In a statement released on Thursday, Emomotimi Guwor, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and Chairman of the Conference, affirmed the body's long-standing support for state police. He stressed that community-based policing would allow quicker responses to local security threats and improve intelligence collection. "This development marks a significant milestone in the national conversation on policing, security, and true federalism in Nigeria," Guwor said. He emphasized that security is inherently local and that policing systems must reflect the realities of individual communities. The 36 state legislatures, according to the statement, are united in the belief that decentralized policing structures will enhance public safety. The speakers pledged to conduct a comprehensive review of the bill when it reaches the state assemblies for constitutional amendment under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution. This review will involve stakeholder consultations and public hearings where appropriate. The Conference commended the Senate for its action and urged all relevant parties to participate constructively in the ongoing legislative process.
The same state legislatures that have struggled to fund existing local security initiatives now back a constitutional push for state police without clarifying how they will finance new forces. Guwor's assertion that "security is local" rings hollow without a plan to equip, train, or sustain these proposed units. If state assemblies are serious about policing reform, their first test will be budgeting for it, not just voting on it.
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