Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has sought to allay fears over the proposed creation of state police, assuring Nigerians that constitutional safeguards contained in the bill would prevent governors from using the security outfits as private armies.
Abbas gave the assurance on Wednesday during the National Security Roundtable held as part of the 2026 National Assembly Open Week in Abuja.
He described the proposed state police legislation as one of the most significant constitutional reforms currently before the National Assembly and pledged that lawmakers would thoroughly scrutinise the bill to ensure it strengthens security without compromising democratic principles.
According to the Speaker, the proposal marks a historic milestone as it is the first time a sitting president has formally submitted an executive bill seeking constitutional backing for the establishment of state police.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for taking the initiative, noting that previous administrations had debated the issue for years without translating it into concrete legislative action.
“For the first time in our history, a sitting president has made state police a central part of national reform. He has done so not with words alone, but with a bill that now sits before the House of Representatives,” Abbas said.
Responding to concerns that state-controlled police forces could be manipulated for political purposes, the Speaker said the proposed amendment contains multiple checks and balances designed to guard against abuse.
He acknowledged public apprehension over the possibility of governors or political actors exerting undue influence over state police structures but insisted that the legislation was crafted to prevent such outcomes.
Abbas argued that Nigeria’s growing and increasingly complex security challenges have exposed the limitations of a centrally controlled policing system.
He noted that crimes such as banditry, kidnapping, attacks on schools and violent clashes between farmers and herders often require local intelligence and rapid response mechanisms that a single national police force may struggle to provide.
“A country as large and as varied as ours cannot be policed forever by one central force run from the capital,” he said, stressing that effective policing requires a deeper understanding of local communities and security dynamics.
Under the proposed amendment, the Nigeria Police Force would be renamed the Federal Police Service, while states would be empowered to establish their own police services through laws passed by their respective Houses of Assembly.
Abbas explained that no state police service would become operational unless it meets minimum national standards to be set by the National Assembly.
He added that the Federal Police would continue to handle terrorism, border security, federal crimes and policing duties within the Federal Capital Territory.
The Speaker further disclosed that state Commissioners of Police would be appointed based on recommendations from the National Police Council and would require confirmation by state legislatures. Their removal, he said, would only be possible through a two-thirds majority vote of the House of Assembly and for justifiable reasons.
He also noted that the proposed constitutional amendment empowers the Federal Police to intervene where a state police service fails, is unlawfully deployed or becomes compromised, subject to constitutional procedures, legislative notification and judicial oversight.
“If a state police breaks down, falls into the wrong hands or turns against the very people it should protect, the Constitution allows the federal police to step in,” he said.
Abbas advocated a gradual rollout of state policing across the federation, warning against the simultaneous establishment of police services in all 36 states without adequate planning and capacity building.
He said lessons from countries such as Germany and Canada show the benefits of a phased approach that allows for adjustments and improvements along the way.
The Speaker also stressed the need for a sustainable funding model, warning that states should not create police institutions they cannot adequately finance.
“We must settle the question of funding from the outset so that no state creates a police force it cannot pay, and no unpaid officer becomes a threat to the citizens he is meant to protect,” he said.
Drawing from the experiences of federal systems in countries including Germany, Canada, India and the United States, Abbas maintained that successful decentralised policing depends on strong accountability frameworks, national standards and effective intelligence-sharing mechanisms.
He also called for reforms aimed at creating a national biometric and criminal database, improving intelligence coordination among security agencies, strengthening border protection and enhancing the welfare and operational capacity of security personnel.
The debate over state police has remained a contentious issue in Nigeria for more than two decades, with supporters arguing that it would improve local security while critics fear potential political misuse.
Abbas, however, expressed confidence that the National Assembly would ensure the legislation balances the need for improved security with the protection of democratic institutions and civil liberties.
He said the ultimate objective is to create a policing system capable of protecting all Nigerians, regardless of their location or status.