The Osun State House of Assembly has become the first state legislature to approve the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police in Nigeria.
The approval was given unanimously during Tuesday’s plenary after lawmakers considered the bill transmitted by the National Assembly.
The development came as the National Assembly clarified that only the State Police Services Bill has so far been sent to the 36 state Houses of Assembly, not the entire package of proposed constitutional amendments.
In a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the legislature said the State Police Services Bill was transmitted to the states on September 16 for consideration and approval.
Ogunlana said the bill was prioritized in response to public concerns over security and policing, adding that other constitutional amendment bills would be sent to the states after both chambers of the National Assembly pass them in identical form.
In Osun, Speaker Adewale Egbedun presented the National Assembly’s request to lawmakers. During the debate, lawmakers including Lawrence Adeoti, Taofeek Olayiwola, Adewumi Adeyemi, and Jeremiah Awoyeye supported the proposal, saying state police could strengthen security at the state and local government levels.
The Majority Leader, Babajide Kofoworola, subsequently moved the motion for the House to approve the amendment, while Tajudeen Adeyemi seconded it.
The approval makes Osun the first state legislature reported to have endorsed the proposed constitutional amendment.
The proposed amendment would provide the constitutional framework for State Police Services to operate alongside the Federal Police Service. The Federal Police would retain responsibility for areas including national security, terrorism, cybercrime, and inter-state crimes under the proposal.
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