REPS: State Police Establishment Bill Passes Second Reading

The House of Representatives has passed for second reading, a bill seeking the creation of state police.

Sponsored by Hon Benjamin Kalu, the constitution alteration bill also seeks to the transfer of Police from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, a move that effectively empowers States to have State controlled policing

Leading the debate on the bill during plenary, Hon Tolani Shagaya said there is an urgent need to decentralize the police force to tackle the security challenges in the country. He said, the bill will enable re-calibration of the National Police Council to include the Chairmen of the State Police Service Commissions, emphasizing the collaborative and consultative nature of policing in our federal system amongst other

Contributing in favor of the bill, some lawmakers said the clamor for state police is long overdue. Speaking against the bill,Hon Sada Soli said, state policing is capital intensive and before establishing state police there is need to address socioeconomic issues of the society

The lawmakers unanimously voted in support of the bill when it was put to a voice vote by Hon Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House. The bill was referred to the committee on constitutional review for further legislative action.