Police Bill: Rep’s death stalls Senate debate as Tinubu pushes for speedy passage

By Haruna Salami

An emergency Senate plenary scheduled for Tuesday to consider the landmark State Police Bill was cut short following the sudden death of a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yaya Tongo of Gombe State.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the passing of Tongo, who represented the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye federal constituency.
In line with legislative tradition, lawmakers paused proceedings to extend their condolences to the deceased’s family, friends, and constituents.
Despite the abrupt adjournment, the push for constitutional reform advanced as Akpabio read an official letter from President Bola Tinubu strongly endorsing the State Police Bill.
In the communication, President Tinubu described the proposed legislation as a critical pillar in ongoing efforts to restructure Nigeria’s security architecture and enhance the protection of lives and property.
He noted that a decentralized policing framework would make security management far more inclusive by integrating local communities, traditional institutions, youth groups, and state governments with federal structures.
Urging the National Assembly to grant the bill “expeditious passage,” Tinubu emphasized that a decentralized structure is a vital step toward resolving Nigeria’s persistent internal security challenges through proactive, rapid-response policing.
The bill, which seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution, builds on previous legislative frameworks designed to establish local police services capable of tackling regional crimes.
Akpabio confirmed that copies of the bill have already been distributed to all senators.
He urged the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendment, chaired by the Deputy Senate President, to fast-track any outstanding reports so the legislature can complete its work without delay.
Akpabio commended the committee for delivering a comprehensive report within a short timeframe, noting that localizing police forces will dramatically improve intelligence gathering and allow security agencies to prevent crimes rather than merely reacting to them.
Before adjourning, the Senate expressed its solidarity with victims of insecurity nationwide, reaffirming its commitment to legislative interventions that protect Nigerian citizens.
Full deliberations on the State Police Bill and other constitutional amendments are expected to resume on Wednesday (today).