State Police bill gains Labour Party backing as the party urges governors and lawmakers to support the constitutional reform

The Labour Party on Thursday endorsed the State Police Bill recently passed by the Senate, describing the proposed constitutional amendment as a landmark reform that could significantly improve Nigeria’s security architecture and bring law enforcement closer to local communities.

The party’s position was outlined in a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, who commended the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, for advancing legislation aimed at decentralising policing powers across the federation.

The endorsement comes a day after the Senate approved the bill seeking to establish state police, a proposal that has dominated national conversations on security and constitutional reform for decades.

Asogwa said the passage of the legislation reflected courage, patriotism and responsiveness to the growing concerns of Nigerians over worsening insecurity.

“The Labour Party commends the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, for its courage, swiftness and sense of patriotism in passing the State Police Bill recently transmitted to it by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

The party argued that calls for a more localised policing structure have intensified in recent years as communities across the country grapple with banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, communal conflicts and other security threats that many stakeholders believe require faster and more community-based responses.

“For years, Nigerians across all regions have clamoured for a more effective and responsive policing architecture capable of addressing the growing and increasingly complex security challenges confronting the nation,” Asogwa stated.

“The passage of this Bill therefore represents a significant step towards strengthening internal security and bringing law enforcement closer to the people.”

The debate over state police has remained one of Nigeria’s most contentious constitutional issues. Supporters argue that governors and local authorities are better positioned to understand security challenges within their jurisdictions, while opponents fear that state-controlled police forces could be manipulated for political purposes.

Acknowledging those concerns, the Labour Party noted that apprehensions about potential abuse were understandable, particularly given criticisms that have trailed some state institutions over the years.

“While the Party acknowledges the concerns expressed in certain quarters regarding the possibility of abuse of the state police system, especially in view of our experience with State Independent Electoral Commissions and allegations of undue interference by some state governors, the realities of contemporary Nigeria make a compelling case for a decentralised policing structure,” Asogwa said.

The party, however, expressed confidence that safeguards built into the constitutional amendment would provide adequate protection against misuse.

According to Asogwa, provisions contained in the proposed amendment establish mechanisms designed to ensure transparency, accountability and oversight in the operation of state police services.

“The Labour Party is particularly encouraged by the constitutional safeguards embedded in the amendment Bill, especially the provisions contained in Section 17, which establish clear mechanisms to prevent abuse and ensure accountability in the operation of state police,” he said.

“These safeguards, if faithfully implemented, should serve as effective checks against arbitrary control or misuse of the system by any state executive.”

The party further maintained that no security model is perfect, but argued that Nigeria’s current centralised policing structure has struggled to effectively police a large and diverse nation of more than 200 million people.

“The Party further notes that no policing model is perfect. However, given the evident limitations of the current centralised policing arrangement in adequately securing a vast and diverse country such as Nigeria, there is an urgent need to embrace innovative approaches and fresh ideas capable of improving security outcomes for citizens,” Asogwa added.

As a major next step, the Labour Party called on governors and state legislators across the country to support the amendment when it reaches the state Houses of Assembly for ratification.

The party urged political leaders to place national security above partisan interests and ensure the reform receives the constitutional backing required for implementation.

“As the bill now awaits the concurrence of the State Houses of Assembly before being transmitted to the President for assent, the Labour Party calls on governors and state lawmakers across the 36 states of the federation to rise above partisan considerations and lend their support to this important constitutional reform in the overriding interest of national security and public safety,” Asogwa said.

The Senate passed the State Police Bill on Wednesday following clause-by-clause consideration during plenary. The proposal secured the support of more than two-thirds of senators through a manual voting process.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the bill’s passage after lawmakers overwhelmingly endorsed recommendations contained in a report presented by the Senate Committee on the Review of the Constitution, chaired by Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin.

Under the proposed constitutional amendment, state governments would be empowered to establish and maintain police services within their jurisdictions, while the Nigeria Police Force would continue to handle national security responsibilities, including terrorism, border protection and other federal offences.

The bill must still secure approval from at least 24 state Houses of Assembly before it can be transmitted to Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.

For many observers, the Senate’s approval represents one of the most significant constitutional reforms under consideration in recent years, with supporters viewing it as a potentially transformative step towards improving security, strengthening local intelligence gathering and enhancing public safety across the country.