Reps Begin Clause-by-Clause Review of Tinubu’s State Police Bill, Set to Align with Senate Version

The House of Representatives has begun a clause-by-clause consideration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Executive Bill seeking to establish State Police, with lawmakers indicating they may adopt the Senate-passed version with only minor amendments.

Speaking on Monday at a meeting of the House Committee on Constitution Review, the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Committee, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, said the House would use the Senate’s version of the bill as its working document while making adjustments where necessary.

Kalu recalled that the House had on June 11 passed its own Constitution Alteration Bill on State Police. However, lawmakers on July 14 rescinded that decision after President Tinubu transmitted an Executive Bill on the same subject to the National Assembly.

He said the move was necessary to allow the House consider the President’s proposal, describing it as a comprehensive response to Nigeria’s security challenges.

“The Executive Bill has already passed first and second readings, while the stakeholder engagement held during the National Assembly Open Week effectively satisfied the public hearing requirement,” Kalu said.

He urged members of the Constitution Review Committee to carefully scrutinise the bill to ensure it reflects the aspirations of Nigerians.

Describing the proposed legislation as one of President Tinubu’s signature constitutional reform initiatives, Kalu said the President had consistently advocated a multi-layered policing system since his days as Governor of Lagos State.

He noted that although the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary operate independently, they remain united in pursuing national objectives, particularly improving security and protecting lives and property.

Kalu explained that the committee convened outside the House’s regular parliamentary schedule because of the urgency attached to the proposed constitutional amendment.

He also disclosed that both chambers of the National Assembly were working closely to fast-track the bill, expressing confidence that it would receive presidential assent once transmitted to the President.

According to him, the committee will examine the Executive Bill clause by clause, relying largely on the Senate-approved version.

He said the Executive Bill is substantially similar to earlier versions considered by the National Assembly, with only a few additions, including provisions on interpretation, transitional arrangements and implementation of the proposed State Police framework.

Kalu added that the Senate introduced about eight minor amendments, which the House Committee would review and adopt where appropriate.

The House’s consideration of the Executive State Police Bill marks another major step in the ongoing constitutional amendment process aimed at creating a constitutionally backed multi-tier policing system to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture.