The Senate has passed the Alteration Bill seeking to establish state police.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the passage of the legislation after more than two-thirds of senators voted in support through a manual voting process conducted on the floor of the chamber, on Wednesday.
The Senate Leader, Opeyemide Bamidele, led debate on the legislation.
The legislation seeks to establish a state policing framework that would operate concurrently with the existing federal police system.
A key provision of the bill “empowers state governors to appoint Commissioners of Police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by the state Houses of Assembly.”
Under Clause 17 of the proposed constitutional amendment, “while the Federal Police Service will continue to be headed by the Inspector-General of Police, each State Police Service shall be headed by a Commissioner of Police appointed by the governor and confirmed by the legislature of the state.”
The bill further outlines the operational relationship between governors and state police commands.
Lawmakers included safeguards aimed at protecting political freedoms and civil liberties to address concerns over potential abuse of the new policing structure by state governments.
Section 17(6) provides that “a governor may issue lawful written directives of a general policy nature to the Commissioner of Police on matters relating to the maintenance of public safety and public order within the state.”
The provision is intended to prevent state police formations from being weaponised against political opponents, activists, journalists or dissenting voices and ensures that any action taken must comply with due process and existing legal provisions.
