The Senate has defended the proposed State Police Bill, insisting that the legislation contains constitutional checks to prevent governors from using state police for political intimidation, particularly during elections.
The upper legislative chamber also disclosed that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, received overwhelming support during its consideration, with 84 of the 109 senators voting in favour of the proposal.
The clarification follows growing public debate over plans to decentralise policing in Nigeria. While supporters believe state police will improve security at the grassroots, critics have expressed fears that state governors could weaponise the outfit against political opponents.
Addressing the concerns in a statement issued on Sunday through his media office, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the proposed constitutional amendment clearly defines the roles of the federal and state police to prevent operational clashes and strengthen collaboration in tackling insecurity.
According to him, the federal police would retain responsibility for national security matters, including the protection of federal institutions, policing the Federal Capital Territory, counter-terrorism operations, organised crime, cybercrime, border security, arms trafficking and interstate criminal offences. State police, on the other hand, would focus on enforcing state laws, preserving public order and safeguarding lives and property within their respective states.
Bamidele said the bill also introduces mechanisms to ensure state police are not subjected to the influence of governors.
He explained that while governors would have the power to nominate commissioners of police, such nominations would only take effect after recommendations by the National Police Council and approval by a two-thirds majority of the relevant state House of Assembly.
He further stated that the National Police Council would supervise policy direction, appointments and funding, while an independent State Police Service Commission would regulate the operations of state police independently of state governors.
Speaking on when the federal police could step into the affairs of a state police command, Bamidele said such intervention would be restricted to extraordinary situations.
He said, “The intervention can only be granted when there is an outright breakdown of public order; where a state police service is incapable of functioning; where there are serious abuses of fundamental rights; where there is partisan or electoral intimidation; and when national security is heavily strained and threatened.
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“To avoid any form of abuse, the bill creates the State Police Service Commission. In design, the commission will serve as the regulatory authority of the state police system.
“Under this arrangement, the commission will be authorised ‘to, without the approval or control of the governor, make rules regulating its own procedure or conferring powers and imposing duties on any officer or authority for the purpose of discharging its functions under the 1999 Constitution.’”
Bamidele also rejected suggestions that the proposed legislation was driven by partisan interests, saying it was the outcome of extensive engagements involving the executive arm of government, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures and the leadership of the Nigeria Police.
He added that public hearings held across the six geopolitical zones in July 2025 showed widespread support for the creation of state police.
He said, “The state police bill was subjected to intense debates at the Senate and House of Representatives. Even though the All Progressives Congress is the majority party, opposition legislators actively took part in the process that approved the state police initiative.
“They exercised their discretion in favour of the proposal, mainly in the national interest and not on a parochial basis.
In the Senate, for instance, 84 out of 109 members voted clause by clause in support of the Bill. This accounted for 77.06 per cent approval at the Senate alone.”
Bamidele maintained that the proposed constitutional amendment is intended to improve accountability while ensuring that state police strengthen security across the country without compromising democratic principles or the fundamental rights of citizens.