Mixed Reactions Trail Senate Approval of State Police Bill

The Senate’s passage of the State Police Bill has triggered nationwide debate, with supporters celebrating the move as a breakthrough for federalism while critics warn of political abuse, corruption and financial instability.

The Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, was approved by the Senate on Wednesday after earlier passage by the House of Representatives. The proposal now requires approval from at least 24 state Houses of Assembly before becoming law.

If implemented, Nigeria will operate a dual policing system made up of the Federal Police Service and separate State Police Services.

Many stakeholders have, however, raised concerns about the readiness of states to manage and finance police structures effectively.

Retired Commissioner of Police Balarabe Sule warned that several states already struggling to pay salaries may not sustain properly equipped police units.

“You don’t expect an officer who is not well paid and equipped to perform optimally. This is where corruption will arise,” Sule stated.

He also expressed fears that governors could misuse state police for political purposes.

Opposition political parties echoed similar concerns.

The Conference of United Political Parties, CUPP, said poorly managed state police could lead to “political weaponisation, election interference, or suppression of opposition.”

The New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, warned against the use of state police by governors to intimidate rivals ahead of the 2027 elections.

“We must ensure governors don’t pack their political thugs into the State Police,” NNPP National Secretary Dipo Olayoku said.

The Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, also criticised the Federal Government, arguing that the current administration lacks the credibility to oversee such a major reform.

On the other hand, supporters insist the reform is long overdue.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described the Senate’s approval as “a great day for our country,” praising President Bola Tinubu for championing state police since his time as Lagos governor.

The Labour Party also backed the reform, saying Nigeria’s current centralised policing model has failed to address modern security challenges.

“We have a population of about 225 million people. The policing system we have is obsolete,” Labour Party spokesman Ken Asogwa said.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Monday Ubani, noted that the effectiveness of state police would ultimately depend on strong legal safeguards, independent oversight bodies and autonomous local government institutions.

He warned that without proper institutional checks, the reform could simply decentralise existing security problems instead of solving them.

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