State Legislatures Express Support for State Police Bill, Promise Thorough Review

The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria has formally endorsed the Senate’s recent passage of the State Police Bill, characterizing the move as a vital step toward decentralizing security and reinforcing federalism.

The chairman of the conference and Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor, announced the support in a statement on Thursday. Guwor noted that state lawmakers have long advocated for community-based policing, arguing that local structures are better equipped to understand regional terrain and address specific security challenges more effectively than centralized systems.

“Security is local, and our people deserve a policing architecture that understands their specific challenges,” Guwor stated.

The bill, which passed its second reading in the Senate this week following a successful vote by more than two-thirds of senators, is now expected to move toward state assemblies for constitutional approval. In anticipation of this, the conference has pledged a transparent and diligent review process.

According to the statement, state houses of assembly intend to uphold the constitutional requirements for amendment by engaging stakeholders and conducting public hearings to ensure the proposal is scrutinized thoroughly.

“We will engage stakeholders, conduct public hearings where necessary, and deliberate dispassionately in the interest of national unity and the security of lives and property,” the conference assured.

The Speakers further committed to maintaining a collaborative relationship with the National Assembly and the executive branch to navigate the complexities of amending the 1999 Constitution, emphasizing that the focus remains on enhancing safety and response times for all Nigerians.