House Backs State Police, Sets Stage for Historic Power Shift
Dr. Nafisat makinde, Abuja
The House of Representatives has approved the State Police Bill, marking a major step toward restructuring Nigeria’s security architecture amid rising insecurity across the country.
The bill passed with overwhelming support 289 votes in favour and only one against while Speaker Tajudeen Abbas abstained. The position was contained in an analysis released by Amb. Oguh Hyginus John, Head, Public Communications Desk, HallowMace Foundation, which linked the development to growing national concern over terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes, cultism and separatist-related violence across different regions.
Beyond security concerns, the vote signals a potential historic shift in Nigeria’s federal structure, as state policing would represent one of the most significant transfers of policing authority from the Federal Government to the states since 1999.
Supporters argue that decentralised policing would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community-based security response, and make governors more directly accountable for security outcomes within their jurisdictions.
However, the proceedings were not without controversy. Lawmaker Bashir Zubairu raised concerns that members received the constitutional review document only hours before voting, while reports of electronic voting failure led to reliance on attendance records, raising questions about transparency and legislative procedure.
Critics also warn that state police could be vulnerable to political abuse by governors, while questions remain over funding capacity, coordination between states, and the risk of overlapping security commands in handling cross-border crimes.
The bill must still pass the Senate and secure approval from at least two-thirds of State Houses of Assembly before becoming law. While the House vote reflects growing consensus on the need for reform, its implementation will depend on strong safeguards, oversight mechanisms and sustained political will.
Ultimately, the proposal represents not only a security reform effort but a broader test of Nigeria’s ability to balance decentralisation with accountability in its evolving federal system.