Nigerian Senate to Vote on State Police Bill This Week

The Nigerian Senate is poised to take a decisive step this week toward creating state police, a major constitutional reform aimed at tackling the country's persistent security crisis. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele announced on Monday that the Senate Committee on Constitution Review will present its final report on the proposal to the full Senate for consideration and approval before the week's end.

Bamidele, who is also the Vice Chairman of the constitution review committee, stated that the National Assembly has resolved to fast-track the required constitutional amendment. He explained that the provision for state police will be isolated from other pending amendments and voted on separately due to its national urgency. The legislative process is expected to dominate the Senate's agenda during its plenary sessions this week.

Following passage by the National Assembly, the constitutional amendment bill must be transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly. It requires ratification by at least two-thirds of the state legislatures before it can be sent to President Bola Tinubu for his assent. Bamidele expressed confidence in this process, stating that President Tinubu, state...