Senate Passes State Police Bill

The Senate on Wednesday passed a constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police across the country, marking a significant step in the ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture.

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As reported by Daily Post, the approval followed deliberations by lawmakers during plenary, where senators considered the proposed framework for the creation of state-controlled police formations.

Before the vote was taken, the upper chamber encountered a setback after its electronic voting system developed a technical fault, raising concerns among lawmakers over the credibility and inclusiveness of the voting process.

Some senators expressed fears that proceeding with the malfunctioning device could prevent certain members from participating in the exercise, prompting calls for an alternative voting method.

To address the situation, the Senate resolved to adopt manual voting for the consideration of the bill, allowing every lawmaker to openly indicate his or her position on the proposed amendment.

Under the arrangement, senators were required to stand individually, announce their names and publicly declare their votes before the chamber.

The motion for the adoption of manual voting was moved by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, and received the support of lawmakers.

Following the exercise, the Senate approved the constitutional amendment bill, paving the way for the establishment of state police as part of broader efforts to tackle insecurity and strengthen policing at the sub-national level.