Nigeria Senate Approves Controversial State Police Bill amid Governance Concerns

A report from a high‑level meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum recommended constitutional amendments to create State Police Services, give governors clearer security authority and establish guaranteed funding mechanisms, including State Security Trust Funds and transitional federal support.

The Senate subsequently passed the State Police Bill, sparking debate among lawmakers. Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe warned that Clause 16(12) would let the President assume control of a state within 48 hours, stating, "The President should not just be empowered to merely write a letter to take over the running of a state." He also called for funding to flow through the National Police Council rather than governor‑controlled accounts. Other senators, including Godswill Akpabio and Aminu Tambuwal, argued the bill is needed to combat banditry and to strengthen federalism, with Tambuwal asserting, "State police will lead to the entrenched of true federalism." The legislation retains a Federal Police Service for national offences while granting states jurisdiction over crimes under state law.