The Senate on Wednesday passed the controversial State Police Bill for a second reading, navigating heated debates and vocal protests from some lawmakers over funding, oversight, and the potential for political abuse.
The landmark bill, an executive proposal by President Bola Tinubu sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, has progressed to the Committee of the Whole, where lawmakers are currently considering its provisions clause by clause.
### Voice Vote Sparks Chamber Drama
The session took a dramatic turn when the Senate abandoned an earlier understanding to conduct a manual roll-call vote, which would have forced each lawmaker to publicly record their stance on the second reading.
Instead, following the debate on the general principles of the bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio subjected the passage to a voice vote. After a chorus of “Ayes” filled the chamber, Akpabio ruled in favor of the bill’s passage and struck the gavel.
The decision sparked immediate dissatisfaction on the floor. Murmurs and protests broke out across sections of the chamber, with Senator Garba Maidoki heard shouting, “This is unfair!” as lawmakers reacted to the swift ruling.
### Lawmakers Warn of Funding, Political Abuse
During the debate preceding the vote, senators broadly acknowledged the necessity of state policing but warned that robust constitutional and statutory safeguards must accompany the reform to prevent abuse by subnational governments.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) disclosed that while he had historically opposed the creation of state police, Nigeria’s worsening security crisis convinced him that extraordinary measures are now required.
However, Abaribe warned that the success of the reform would depend heavily on the enabling legislation rather than the constitutional amendment itself. He cautioned against granting the President unilateral power to take over state police structures, arguing that any federal intervention must require National Assembly approval. He also raised concerns over financing, warning that without guaranteed funding mechanisms, state police formations could become vulnerable to political manipulation.
Former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto South), reiterated his support for the bill, describing it as a vital step toward deepening federalism. Citing recent bandit attacks in Sokoto that claimed dozens of lives, Tambuwal urged the Senate to support the initiative while designing watertight safeguards to prevent governors from weaponizing the local forces.
Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno described the legislation as long overdue. He argued that several states already run quasi-policing structures, such as the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Borno and the Amotekun Corps in the South-West. Monguno stated that the bill would finally provide a formal legal framework, regulatory oversight, and proper funding for these existing security outfits.
### Clause-by-Clause Voting Underway
Following the second reading, the Senate dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to begin the rigorous clause-by-clause consideration of the bill.
Under the procedure adopted for this stage, senators are required to stand and raise their hands in support of individual clauses, while those opposed remain seated.
The ongoing voting process will determine the final shape of the bill before it is sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence and subsequently transmitted to the State Houses of Assembly. To amend the 1999 Constitution, the bill must be approved by at least two-thirds (24) of the 36 state parliaments.
