Di House of Representatives don pass di constitutional alteration bill wey go establish state police. 311 lawmakers vote for am, wey meet di two-thirds majority wey constitution require.
But di passage no come smooth. Members of di minority caucus stage walkout, dey claim say due process no follow. Di Deputy Speaker, Mr. Benjamin Kalu, wey be chairman of House Committee on Constitution Review, lead di consideration and urge members to support di bill.
Di House use electronic and virtual voting. While 311 vote for di bill, di minority caucus, led by Minority Leader Mr. Fred Agbedi, disagree with di procedure. Dem stage walkout and later address news conference. Dem say dem support di bill, but point out breaches of Constitution and Standing Orders.
Chairman of House Committee on Defence, Mr. Babajimi Benson, defend di process. Di House also pass bill to establish Federal College of Fisheries Technology and Marine Engineering for Rivers State. Plenary adjourn to September 15, 2026.
Di passage come four weeks after Senate pass di bill. Di legislation replace existing Nigeria Police Force with dual structure: Federal Police Service and State Police Services. Key provision allow state governors to appoint commissioners of police, subject to confirmation by Houses of Assembly.
Section 17(6) say governor fit issue lawful written directives to Commissioner of Police on public safety and order. But to prevent abuse, Section 17(7) say Commissioner no go arrest, detain, investigate or deploy force against person or group for criticizing government except according to law. Dis safeguard protect political freedoms and civil liberties.
President Bola Tinubu transmit di bill to lawmakers, seeking establishment of state police to reform security architecture. He say di bill provide legal framework for dual policing, allow states to operate own police services alongside federal police. Di passage advance Federal Government efforts to improve internal security and grassroots intelligence.
