How the State Police Bill Proposes to Decentralise Policing in Nigeria
A recent constitutional amendment bill aims to move policing to the Concurrent Legislative List. This change would let both the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly pass laws on policing within their regions. Under the plan, the National Assembly would keep control of national standards, firearms regulation, federal interventions and inter-governmental cooperation. States would gain the power to establish, fund and run their own police forces within constitutional limits. The draft prohibits federal authorities from routine appointments, deployments, transfers or discipline of state police officers except where the Constitution explicitly allows. It also updates references in the Constitution to replace the Nigeria Police Force with separate Federal and State Police structures. Supporters say state police would tackle local insecurity more effectively. Critics worry about political misuse, funding shortfalls and intimidation. For the bill to pass, two-thirds of both national chambers and two-thirds of State Houses of Assembly must approve it. If enacted, this would reshape Nigeria’s security framework.
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