The Ondo State House of Assembly has given its backing to the creation of state police services nationwide by passing the Sixth Alteration Bill of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.
The bill passed through its second and third readings during plenary, with all lawmakers present supporting the proposed constitutional amendment.
The passage signals the Assembly’s support for a decentralised policing system aimed at strengthening security and improving responses to crime.
Moving the motion for the bill’s passage, the House Leader, Olatunji Oshati, said lawmakers had carefully considered the implications of the proposed amendment for Nigerians.
He argued that establishing state police would help address the numerous security challenges confronting the country.
The motion was seconded by Allen Oluwatoyin, who represents Ese-Odo Constituency.
Speaking on the bill, the Speaker of the Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, described the establishment of state police as long overdue.
Oladiji said the proposed system would enable security agencies to respond more swiftly to crimes and other security concerns.
He added that state policing would improve intelligence gathering, encourage proactive security measures and help reduce criminal activities.
The Speaker commended lawmakers for their contributions to the bill’s passage and directed the Clerk of the House to transmit the document, alongside the Assembly’s observations, to the National Assembly.
The passage comes amid a nationwide push for constitutional reform to establish state police as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s security challenges.
According to Thefrontrank, the proposed constitutional amendment secured the approval of 24 State Houses of Assembly last week, meeting the two-thirds threshold required for constitutional alteration.
The bill seeks to introduce a dual policing system, allowing state police services to operate alongside the existing federal police structure.
What You Should Know
The Ondo State House of Assembly has formally approved a constitutional amendment bill to establish state police services, aligning with ongoing nationwide efforts to decentralize Nigeria’s security architecture.
- Positive Impact: A dual policing system could improve local intelligence gathering, quicken emergency responses to criminal activities, and ease the burden on federal security forces.
- Potential Concerns: Critics and observers often worry about the potential abuse of state police powers by local political actors, as well as the financial sustainability of funding state-level security outfits.
