The House of Representatives has passed a landmark constitutional amendment bill, seeking to establish state police across the country as part of efforts to address rising insecurity.

The bill proposes an alteration to Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution to create both Federal and State Police formations, decentralizing policing and strengthening local security structures.

During consideration of the report, member, representing Birnin Gwari/Giwa Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Bashir Usman, raised a point of order, arguing that lawmakers had insufficient time to study the committee’s report.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, appealed for calm, reminding members that the report had earlier been scheduled for consideration before it was stepped down.

Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Benjamin Kalu, presented highlights of the proposal, stating that the amendment would localise security operations and provide financial independence for the Armed Forces, among other reforms.

At the Committee of the Whole, members voted manually by raising their hands. A total of 289 lawmakers voted in support of the bill, while one member abstained.

Following the vote, the House adopted the report and passed the constitutional amendment bill.

The proposed law provides that no state police formation shall commence operations unless established by a law enacted by the relevant State House of Assembly and certified to meet national minimum standards prescribed by the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, the House has proceeded on a two-week recess to mark its third anniversary in office and is expected to resume plenary on July 7.