House of Rep passes state police bill as 289 lawmakers votes in response to Nigeria’s insecurity

The House of Representatives has passed the State Police Bill, representing a crucial advancement in the decentralization of Nigeria’s policing system in response to rising insecurity nationwide.

The vote took place during Thursday’s plenary session led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, with 289 lawmakers in favor of the bill, one against it, and the Speaker abstaining from the vote.

The session was specifically dedicated to discussing the bill, prompted by a recent increase in violent crimes such as killings, kidnappings, and banditry across the country.

During the proceedings, Kaduna representative Bashir Zubairu raised a concern, stating that lawmakers had only received the report from the House Committee on Constitution Review that same day and lacked adequate time to review it.

He remarked, “Mr. Speaker, this document was made available to us just now, and we haven’t had time to examine it properly. We cannot make an informed decision.”

Despite his objections, the House proceeded with discussions on the bill. Although some members tried to interject with points of order as the clauses were reviewed, the Speaker continued without interruption.

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Prior to voting, Abbas announced that the electronic voting system was malfunctioning, so the vote would be taken based on attendance. Out of 290 lawmakers present, 289 supported the State Police Bill, with only one dissenting vote.

This milestone advances Nigeria toward implementing state-managed police forces, a reform that supporters argue could enhance local security measures and bolster crime-fighting efforts. However, additional legislative and constitutional steps remain ahead before the proposal becomes law.