House of Reps Okays Passage Of State Police, Establishment of College of Fisheries Technology in Rivers Amids Protest By Opposition

The House of Representatives has finally passed the constitutional alteration bill seeking to establish state police amid protest by opposition members just as the house passed another bill seeking the establishment of the Federal College of Fisheries Technology and Marine Engineering in Rivers State.

A total of 311 out of the 360 lawmakers voted in support of the proposal, meeting the constitutionally required two-thirds majority.

Before the passage of the bill for the establishment of State Police, members of the minority caucus led by the Minority Leader, Mr. Fred Agbedi, staged a walkout, alleging that due process was not followed during consideration of the bill.

The Deputy Speaker, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Mr. Benjamin Kalu, led the consideration of the report and urged members to support the bill.

The House then proceeded to electronic and virtual voting on the bill.

While 311 members of the House voted in favour of the bill, meeting the two-thirds majority required for a constitutional alteration, the minority caucus disagreed with the procedure adopted for the passage of the bill.

The passage of the bill by the lower chamber came four weeks after the Senate passed the bill.

With the passage by the National Assembly, the legislation replaces the existing Nigeria Police Force framework with a dual structure comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.

A key provision of the bill empowers state governors to appoint commissioners of police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by the Houses of Assembly.

The bill also defines the operational relationship between governors and state police commands. 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”.

To allay fears of possible abuse of the proposed policing structure, the senators incorporated safeguards aimed at protecting political freedoms and civil liberties.

Section 17(7) specifically states that “a state Commissioner of Police shall not arrest, detain, investigate or deploy force against any person, political party or group merely for criticizing the government except in accordance with the law”.

The provision is designed to prevent state police formations from being used against political opponents, activists, journalists and other dissenting voices, while ensuring that any action taken complies with due process and existing legal provisions.

Following the development, the minority caucus addressed a news conference, stating its support for the bill but pointing out what it described as breaches of the Constitution and the Standing Orders of the House.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Mr. Babajimi Benson, defended the process.

The lawmakers later adjourned plenary to September 15, 2026.

President Bola Tinubu had transmitted the bill to the lawmakers, seeking the establishment of state police as part of efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture.