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House Moves to Fast-Track Tinubu’s State Police Bill
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By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has begun consideration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Executive Bill seeking to establish State Police as part of ongoing constitutional reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s internal security architecture.
The House Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, met on Monday to begin scrutiny of the proposed legislation, with indications that lawmakers may adopt the version already passed by the Senate, subject to minor adjustments.
Addressing committee members, Kalu recalled that the House had earlier passed its own Constitution Alteration Bill on State Police on 11 June before proceeding on recess. However, following the transmission of the President’s Executive Bill, the House reversed that decision on 14 July to pave the way for consideration of the new proposal.
He explained that the President, as Commander-in-Chief, was best placed to propose comprehensive legislation capable of addressing Nigeria’s growing security challenges.
According to him, the Executive Bill has already passed first and second readings in the House, while the extensive stakeholder engagement held during the National Assembly Open Week effectively satisfied the public hearing requirement.
Kalu said: “You may recall that on the 11th of June, before the recess, the House considered and passed the Police Constitution Alteration Bill. However, following the introduction of an Executive Bill by the President, that decision was reversed by the House on the 14th of July to enable consideration of the Executive Bill coming from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
“The bill has been referred to this Committee, and the Committee is not just the Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Chairman. The Committee is you and I. Our responsibility is to carefully scrutinise this legislation and ensure that it reflects the aspirations and expectations of the Nigerian people”.
Kalu described the proposal as one of President Tinubu’s flagship constitutional reform initiatives, noting that the President had consistently advocated for a decentralised policing structure long before assuming office.
The Deputy Speaker emphasised that although the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary operate independently, they share a common responsibility to safeguard the nation.
“I must emphasise that the State Police Bill remains one of the signature constitutional reform initiatives of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. As Governor of Lagos State, he was among the earliest advocates of multi-layered policing as a strategic solution to Nigeria’s security challenges. Today, as President, he is championing the same cause, demonstrating consistency between his convictions and his actions.
“As we have always argued, although we are three arms of government, we are one government. There is a national objective, and all we do is align ourselves with it, especially when that objective is in the best interest of Nigerians. Today, there is a national consensus that security must remain at the forefront of governance, and both the Executive and the Legislature are committed to achieving that objective,” he added.
He noted that lawmakers convened outside the usual parliamentary schedule because of the urgency surrounding the security situation.
He further stated that the House and Senate were working closely to speed up the constitutional amendment process and expressed confidence that the legislation would receive prompt presidential assent once passed by both chambers.
“We are here today not because it is convenient for us. Our parliamentary week ordinarily begins on Tuesday, but duty calls, and time is of the essence. We are joining hands with the Executive to ensure that this collaborative effort results in the successful passage of this priority constitutional amendment.
“Historically, the House and the Senate are working in tandem to ensure this significant constitutional amendment is achieved. I am confident that once it returns to the Executive, it will receive expeditious assent,” he said.
Explaining the committee’s task, Kalu said members will carry out a clause-by-clause review of the Executive Bill, using the Senate-approved version as the primary working document.
He noted that the Executive Bill closely mirrors previous drafts already considered by the National Assembly, with only a few notable additions.
“The purpose of today’s meeting is to consider the Executive Bill clause by clause and make appropriate recommendations to the House. We must note that the Senate has already considered and adopted the bill with certain amendments, and copies of that version have been circulated to members. This document will serve as our working draft throughout this exercise,” he stated.
“On the clause-by-clause consideration, the Executive Bill is substantially similar to what we have previously worked on, with only minor adjustments. Therefore, we do not anticipate any major departure from the work already undertaken,” he said.
Among the fresh provisions, Kalu highlighted the introduction of Section 318 on interpretation, alongside transitional and saving clauses intended to ensure a smooth implementation of the proposed State Police framework.
He also disclosed that the Senate introduced about eight minor amendments, which the House committee will examine and adopt where necessary.
“You will see the introduction of Section 318 dealing with interpretation, as well as transitional and saving provisions to facilitate the implementation and operationalisation of the State Police framework, together with other consequential amendments. The Senate also introduced about eight minor clauses with slight adjustments that are not too significant.
“So, as we proceed with this amendment process, we shall take into consideration the work already done by the Senate and adopt it where applicable”, Kalu said.
The committee’s consideration of the Executive Bill marks another key step in the constitutional amendment process, with lawmakers expressing optimism that the proposed legislation will provide Nigeria with a constitutionally backed multi-tier policing system capable of improving security and tackling crime more effectively across the federation.
The Plateau Vanguard for Democracy has declared its support for Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s directive stopping the activities of a purported Hisbah enforcement group operating in parts of Jos North Local Government Area.
In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Chris Ishaku, the group said no private organisation had the constitutional authority to intimidate residents, enforce unauthorised rules or impose sanctions outside Nigeria’s established legal system.
The directive followed reports that persons associated with the group had allegedly harassed, intimidated and extorted residents while attempting to compel them to comply with rules not recognised by Plateau State law.
Ishaku described the governor’s intervention as a necessary defence of public order, individual liberty and the equal protection of all residents, irrespective of their religious, ethnic or community affiliations.
“Plateau State belongs equally to all its citizens. No private organisation may appoint itself a police force, court or government and impose sanctions unknown to the Constitution and laws of the state,” he said.
He stressed that support for the directive should not be interpreted as opposition to any religion or community, but as an affirmation that Plateau State has one Constitution, one legal system and one legitimate authority.
The organisation urged religious, traditional, political and community leaders to discourage their followers from participating in unlawful enforcement activities. It advised residents with complaints about the conduct of others to report such matters to the police or other legally constituted agencies.
Ishaku also welcomed the governor’s instruction directing security agencies to identify and investigate those allegedly involved.
He nevertheless called on the agencies to act professionally, respect due process and avoid subjecting innocent residents to collective suspicion.
“Anyone found sponsoring, aiding or carrying out unlawful acts should be prosecuted, while innocent residents must be protected,” he said.
“Peace cannot survive where competing groups create competing laws. Plateau’s diversity must be governed by justice, tolerance and one constitutional order.”
The allegations against the purported group have not been independently established, and no response from its alleged members was included in the statement.
Saina Buba, the Borno State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, has threatened political opponents with physical harm if they fail to support the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Buba made the remark during a campaign inauguration event organised by the Tinubu City Boy Movement, a political support organisation campaigning for President Bola Tinubu’s administration and his anticipated 2027 re-election bid.
Addressing the crowd, the commissioner warned that anyone who opposed the APC by raising a finger against the party would have the same finger cut off.
He said those who challenged the party would have their fingers broken, stressing that the warning was part of the political contest.
Buba also warned that government benefits would be used to favour supporters of the administration while those who refused to support it could face punitive treatment.
The commissioner said those who supported the government would enjoy its benefits, while those who rejected it would face the consequences.
Buba’s comments have sparked outrage.
The Grassroots Mobilisation Network (GMN), a support group of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), on Sunday called on President Bola Tinubu to break his silence over alleged references to him in narcotics-related documents reportedly submitted by the United States FBI before the District Court for the District of Columbia, or resign from office.
The group, in a statement by its spokesperson, Mr Peter Emeka, expressed concern over what it described as the continued silence of the Presidency, arguing that Nigerians deserve clarity on an issue that, in its view, has implications for the country’s international reputation.
Pressing for a US response, the APM National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar, said the sustained efforts by the Tinubu Presidency to block the release of the report to the public heightened suspicion of guilt and desperation for a cover-up.
“The APM urges the United States authorities to note that withholding such information is of enormous harm to Nigeria’s security, national integrity and democratic growth.
“The United States, being a leading democracy in the world, should at all times be seen to facilitate the consolidation of democracy and transparency in the international fight against drug trafficking and corruption.
“The drug and other ancillary allegations against President Tinubu, who is a major contender in the 2027 presidential election, constitute a global issue which continues to harm Nigeria’s reputation among the comity of nations.
“This is especially as the public is already aware of the 1993 $460,000 forfeiture judgment against accounts traced to Tinubu by the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois following an investigation into drug-related transactions.
“The effect of the $460,000 forfeiture judgment is that, by virtue of Section 137 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), President Tinubu remains ineligible for election in Nigeria. Moreover, Nigeria is a signatory to international conventions on drugs and money laundering.”
The APM urged the “United States authorities to assist Nigerians in their decision to elect a leader with clean records and not an individual encumbered by drug-related allegations and corruption cases.”
On its part, the spokesman for the Grassroots Mobilisation Network (GMN), Mr Peter Emeka, said, “We call on President Tinubu to come out clean and speak to the nation over the ongoing litigation in America.”
He also criticised Nigeria’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies, accusing them of failing to adequately investigate or respond to the allegations and documents circulating in the public domain.
“Our system has failed for the fact that they were unable to detect all these embarrassing documents being paraded against the President, which are now the subject of litigation in a far-away country,” Emeka stated.
“Our intelligence agencies saddled with the responsibility of investigation and various checks have all failed,” he added.
According to the group, the continued silence from the Presidency is becoming increasingly disturbing and has the potential to deepen public suspicion.
“If the President continues to remain mute, he should quietly resign to save the nation from the ongoing global embarrassment,” Emeka said.
In a related development, the GMN has demanded greater transparency regarding President Tinubu’s reported three-week vacation in Europe.
The group said that, given the prevailing mood in the country and the controversy surrounding the narcotics-related allegations, the Presidency should provide Nigerians with adequate information about the President’s itinerary and engagements while away.
“The prevailing mood of the country requires the Presidency to make a full disclosure of President Tinubu’s movements,” the group said.
The GMN maintained that greater transparency would help dispel speculation, reassure Nigerians and protect the country’s image and standing in the international community.
The group urged the Presidency to address the issues directly rather than allow speculation and unanswered questions to dominate public discourse.
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