The Senate on Wednesday passed the long-awaited constitutional alteration bill seeking the establishment of State Police across Nigeria, in what lawmakers described as a major step toward tackling insecurity and deepening federalism.
The 25-clause bill provides the legal framework for the creation of State Police Services by states and also includes constitutional safeguards aimed at preventing abuse of police powers by governors and other political actors.
Leading debate on the bill, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the legislation was carefully designed to address fears that governors could misuse state-controlled police formations to harass political opponents, intimidate dissenting voices, or suppress opposition parties.
To guard against this, the bill expressly prohibits any governor from directing a State Police Service to unlawfully target any person, political party, group, or association.
It also bars the use of police powers for partisan, ethnic, religious, sectional, or personal interests.
A major feature of the bill is the framework for federal intervention in exceptional cases.
The Federal Government may intervene where there is a breakdown of public order, where a State Police Service becomes incapable of functioning, where there are serious abuses of fundamental rights, cases of partisan or electoral intimidation, or threats to national security.
Such intervention must be authorised in writing by the President, stating the grounds, territory, functions, and duration of the intervention.
Notice must also be sent within 48 hours to the state governor, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, National Police Council, and the National Assembly.
The bill also empowers the National Assembly to set national minimum standards for both federal and state police institutions, covering recruitment, training, vetting, promotion, discipline, use of force, and handling of firearms.
