The National Assembly on Thursday took a significant step in the quest for the establishment of State Police as both the Senate and House of Representatives demonstrated sufficient eagerness to amend the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for the decentralisation of policing in the country.
This is as the House of Representatives passed the proposed legislation amid worsening security challenges across the country. The passing of the bill was sequel to voting by 290 out of the 360 members who attended the plenary.
The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, announced to lawmakers that a faulty electronic system would not permit voting by electronic means and thereafter urged all members in the chamber to register their presence for the exercise.
The bill, sponsored by Kalu and 14 other lawmakers, passed second reading on February 20, 2024.
The proposed legislation seeks to transfer policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, thereby empowering states to establish and control their own police formations.
To achieve this, the proposed legislation seeks amendments to Sections 197, 214 and 215, among others, of the 1999 Constitution.
Speaking at the end of voting, Mr Abbas said, “In attendance for the exercise are 290 members, out of which 289 voted in favour of state police. One member voted against, and there’s no nay vote.”