The House of Representatives passes the state police bill with 289 votes, advancing plans to decentralise Nigeria’s policing system amid security concerns
The House of Representatives has passed the state police bill, paving the way for the decentralisation of Nigeria’s policing structure following a decisive vote during Thursday’s plenary session in Abuja.
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Lawmakers approved the bill after 289 members voted in favour of the proposal, while one member voted against it. The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, did not participate in the voting process.
The decision followed a session dedicated to considering the proposed legislation, which comes amid rising concerns over killings, kidnappings and banditry across several parts of the country.
Tensions briefly surfaced during deliberations when Kaduna lawmaker Bashir Zubairu raised concerns over late circulation of the document, arguing that members had insufficient time to review its contents before voting.
Zubairu insisted that lawmakers could not adequately assess the bill, but his objection was ruled out of order, allowing proceedings to continue.
As the Speaker guided members through the clauses, intermittent protests and calls for procedural clarification were reportedly ignored as deliberations advanced.
With the electronic voting system declared faulty, the House resorted to a physical count based on attendance, leading to the near-unanimous approval of the bill.
The outcome marks a significant step in ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture through the introduction of state-controlled policing structures.
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Further details are expected as the legislative process continues.
