The end of Nigeria's centralised policing system is drawing closer as the National Assembly begins the process of transmitting the proposed State Police constitutional amendment bill to President Bola Tinubu for assent, following its approval by 28 State Houses of Assembly.
The bill was passed during Tuesday’s plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Isma’il Falgore, following consideration by the Committee of the Whole and approval at the third reading.
24 state assemblies have approved the state police alteration bill. Bayelsa, Gombe and Kaduna were among the latest to vote. The threshold set by Section 9(2), two-thirds of the 36 states, has now been met.
Nigeria's decades-long push for State Police has crossed its most critical constitutional hurdle after 24 State Houses of Assembly approved the amendment establishing a dual policing system, paving the way for its return to the National Assembly and eventual transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
The drive to establish State Police in Nigeria has gained fresh momentum, with 17 State Houses of Assembly now backing the constitutional amendment seeking to decentralise policing and create State Police Services.
The Delta State House of Assembly has unanimously approved a proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution seeking to establish State Police Services in Nigeria, with all 23 lawmakers present voting in favour.
Gbajabiamila, who chairs the Presidential Working Group on policing reform, disclosed this while speaking with journalists after a meeting of the group’s steering committee at the State House, Abuja.
The Houses of Assembly in Osun, Edo, Oyo and Rivers have endorsed the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police across Nigeria, a major policing reform currently before state legislatures.
The Oyo State House of Assembly has backed the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish State Police Services, becoming the latest state legislature to advance the proposal aimed at changing Nigeria’s policing structure.
An Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has dismissed a petition seeking the dissolution of a marriage that has lasted over 43 years, ruling that lack of love and mutual respect between spouses does not, on its own, constitute sufficient legal grounds for divorce.
