By Gloria Ikibah
The debate over the proposed establishment of state police in Nigeria will take centre stage in Abuja on Tuesday, October 6, as the House of Representatives Press Corps holds its second annual Distinguished Parliamentarian Lecture and Awards.
Governor of Niger State, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago; founder and chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd, High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo; former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Godwin Elumelu; and Secretary of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Nnadubem Moghalu, are expected to lead discussions at the event.
The gathering comes as the constitutional amendment Bill seeking to establish State Police Services is before the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration.
The proposed reform seeks to decentralise policing and strengthen the ability of security agencies to respond to threats and challenges peculiar to individual communities.
The theme of this year’s lecture is, “The Imperative for State Police: Securing Communities, Strengthening Federalism”.
Moghalu, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Planning and Research, is expected to deliver a lecture titled “State Police, Community Security and the Future of Federalism in Nigeria”.
His presentation is expected to examine the proposed policing framework and its implications for community security, federalism and the relationship between state and federal security institutions.
The discussion will also consider issues surrounding funding, recruitment, training, operational independence, accountability, oversight and safeguards against abuse.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, will serve as Chief Host and is expected to speak on the position of the 10th House on state police and other security-related legislation before the National Assembly.
Governor Bago and Tompolo are expected to provide practical perspectives on state-level governance, community security and the protection of critical national assets.
The event is expected to attract lawmakers, policymakers, security professionals, civil society organisations, academics, development partners, media executives and other stakeholders for discussions on the proposed reform.
Other expected participants include the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Clerk to the National Assembly, Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana; Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Akin Rotimi Jr.; Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Grace Ike; as well as representatives of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and development partners.
The event will also feature the presentation of the House of Representatives Press Corps Distinguished Parliamentarian Awards to two prominent Nigerians for their contributions to national development, security and public service.
Bago will be honoured for his contributions to rural development and public leadership, while Tompolo will receive the Award of Excellence in National Assets Protection for his contribution to the protection of Nigeria’s critical national assets.
In a statement by the Chairman, House of Representatives Press Corps, Comrade Gboyega Onadiran, he said the annual lecture was designed to provide a platform for informed and constructive discussions on issues of national importance.
According to him, the choice of state police for this year’s edition was informed by the significance of the issue to Nigeria’s security and the ongoing debate over the future of policing and federalism.
Onadiran said the Press Corps also seeks to promote meaningful engagement among the legislature, security stakeholders, the media and the wider public on major national issues.
The lecture is scheduled for 10am at the National Assembly Library Auditorium, Abuja, on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
