The House of Representatives has withdrawn its own proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police, opting instead to advance the Executive-sponsored bill through first and second readings on Tuesday.
At Tuesday’s plenary, lawmakers passed the Executive bill and referred it to the House Committee on Constitutional Review for further legislative work. The decision effectively places the House’s earlier proposal on hold while attention shifts to the Executive-backed version.
The development follows months of debate over the establishment of state police in Nigeria, with President Bola Tinubu’s administration pushing the reform to address the country’s security challenges. The Executive bill, which includes provisions for presidential intervention in cases of abuse, will now undergo detailed scrutiny at the committee stage.
Key Points:
The decision streamlines the legislative process by focusing on a single bill.
Lawmakers may now align their review with the Executive’s preferred framework.
State police reform remains a priority, but the details will be shaped at the committee stage.
The Executive’s influence over the legislative agenda is reinforced by the decision.
Timing of the withdrawal allows the committee to focus on one proposal for faster consideration.
The House Committee on Constitutional Review’s examination of the Executive bill will determine the final shape of state police legislation.


