There was mild confusion as the House of Representatives passed a bill to alter the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to provide for the establishment of State Police Services. The Minority Caucus in the House questioned the procedures and certain constitutional and legal lacuna.
The bill was approved during the Committee of the Whole after the House adopted the report of the Committee on Constitution Review.
Chairman of the committee and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, said the amendment is aimed at bringing policing closer to the people, strengthening intelligence gathering, improving community policing and enhancing the country’s response to security challenges.
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen said the proposal secured the participation of 211 APC lawmakers, 65 members from other political parties and 35 members who joined virtually before it was approved by voice vote.
However, the Minority Caucus rejected the procedure and called for a reconsideration of the bill.
Addressing journalists , the caucus said it supports the establishment of State Police but argued that the current bill contains constitutional, legal and operational gaps that should be addressed before final passage.
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