RismadarVoice Reporters, June 23, 2026
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has called on senators to ensure full attendance at Wednesday’s plenary session as the National Assembly prepares to deliberate on the proposed constitutional amendment seeking the establishment of state police across Nigeria.
Akpabio made the appeal during an emergency Senate session on Tuesday, describing the State Police Bill as a significant reform that could transform the country’s security framework and strengthen efforts to combat insecurity at the grassroots level.
The proposal, which has gained support from security experts, state governors, and community leaders, is widely viewed as a response to persistent security challenges, including banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, and other violent crimes.
Addressing lawmakers, the Senate President stressed the importance of broad participation in constitutional amendment processes, noting that such decisions carry long-term implications for the nation.
He urged senators to view the forthcoming vote as a critical national assignment, emphasizing that legislative responsibilities extend beyond securing political office.
According to Akpabio, the proposed amendment would provide the constitutional basis for the creation of state police services while incorporating safeguards to prevent misuse through future legislation and regulatory oversight.
He argued that decentralising policing would enhance community-based security by allowing local governments, traditional institutions, youth groups, and community leaders to play more active roles in intelligence gathering and crime prevention.
The Senate President maintained that residents of local communities are often better positioned to identify criminal elements and suspicious activities within their environments, making state policing a potentially effective tool for addressing security threats.
To facilitate prompt consideration of the bill, Akpabio directed the Senate Committee on Constitution Review to submit its report before Wednesday’s sitting.
Also speaking, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele underscored the importance of lawmakers’ presence during the vote, noting that constitutional amendments require the support of at least two-thirds of Senate members for approval.
He described the state police proposal as a national issue that transcends political, regional, and ethnic interests, urging senators to encourage absent colleagues to participate in the legislative process.
The Senate subsequently adjourned plenary until Wednesday, when lawmakers are expected to debate and vote on the proposed constitutional amendment.
The push for state police has gathered momentum in recent months following President Bola Tinubu’s endorsement of the initiative and ongoing constitutional review efforts by the National Assembly.
Supporters believe state-controlled policing will improve local security coordination and intelligence gathering, while critics have raised concerns about funding, political influence, and operational control.
For the amendment to become law, it must secure the approval of at least two-thirds of members of both chambers of the National Assembly and receive endorsement from a minimum of 24 state Houses of Assembly before being transmitted to the President for assent.
