The Senate is set to reconvene today for an emergency plenary session to consider the proposed State Police Bill, a landmark constitutional amendment widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most significant security reforms since the return to democratic rule. The special sitting was convened after lawmakers were unable to complete work on the bill before proceeding on a three-week recess due to insufficient attendance. Because the legislation seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution, it requires the support of at least two-thirds of senators.
Although the proposal has attracted support from lawmakers across party lines, the Senate was unable to secure the required quorum before the recess. In response, Senate leaders intensified consultations and urged members to attend the emergency session to ensure the legislative process moves forward.
Speaking exclusively with our correspondent on Monday, Senate spokesperson Senator Yemi Adaramodu confirmed that the State Police Bill would be a major focus of the sitting.
He said, “The Senate will be considering matters of public interest, especially national security. The State Police legislation will undoubtedly be a priority issue.
“The Senate is expected to receive reports from the relevant committee that earlier got legislative referral for a second reading of the State Police bill.
“The Senate is desirous of partnering with other arms of government in curbing the undesirable activities of bandits, terrorists and other peace-threatening marauders.”
Should the bill secure Senate approval, both chambers of the National Assembly will establish a joint conference committee to reconcile differences in their versions before forwarding the legislation to the 36 State Houses of Assembly, whose approval is required for constitutional amendments.
The emergency plenary, scheduled for 11 a.m. at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, was communicated to senators through a June 15 memo issued by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo. The notice indicated that the sitting was convened by Senate President Godswill Akpabio to address pressing national concerns, particularly security-related matters.
The decision to interrupt the ongoing recess highlights growing concern over Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation, marked by persistent attacks from terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements across the country.
According to the Senate, the recall became necessary because of urgent matters requiring immediate legislative action.
“The purpose of this emergency sitting is to enable the Senate to consider matters of urgent national importance, particularly issues relating to national security and other critical concerns that require immediate legislative attention,” the notice read.
The move represents a departure from the National Assembly’s original legislative calendar. Both the Senate and House of Representatives had adjourned two weeks earlier and were expected to resume on July 7 following the Democracy Day holiday and constituency engagements.
The emergency session comes amid increasing calls for stronger measures to address insecurity nationwide. During his Democracy Day address, President Bola Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to combating terrorism and criminality, warning that terrorists, bandits and their sponsors would face the full force of the law.
The president stated that more than 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised within the past year and said terrorism-related fatalities had declined significantly compared to previous years. However, he acknowledged that the continued captivity of abducted schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states underscored the country’s ongoing security challenges.
The emergency sitting is expected to accelerate efforts by the National Assembly to reform Nigeria’s security architecture through constitutional amendments.
On June 11, the Senate advanced the State Police Bill by passing it for second reading and referring it to the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution for further consideration.
The bill proposes transferring policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, enabling state governments to establish and manage their own police forces alongside the federal police structure.
To accomplish this, amendments are proposed to Sections 197, 214 and 215 of the Constitution, among other provisions.
Opening debate on the legislation, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele described state police as an essential reform for strengthening internal security in the face of increasingly sophisticated threats. He argued that officers operating within their local communities would be better equipped to gather intelligence because of their understanding of local languages, customs and social dynamics.
Bamidele noted that Nigeria continues to grapple with terrorism, violent extremism, banditry, mass kidnappings, farmer-herder conflicts, cultism, armed robbery, pipeline vandalism, communal violence and cybercrime. He maintained that the localised nature of many of these threats has intensified calls for decentralised policing.
Addressing concerns about potential abuse by governors, the Senate leader insisted that the legislation contains sufficient safeguards.
He noted that one of the major concerns often raised against state police “is the possibility of abuse by state governments".
The proposed protections include the creation of State Police Service Commissions, oversight by the Federal Police Service Commission, legislative confirmation of senior appointments, adherence to national policing standards and constitutional provisions for federal intervention where law and order break down.
Several senators, particularly from Northern Nigeria, also expressed support for the proposal during the second reading debate, arguing that decentralised policing offers a practical and sustainable solution to the country’s persistent security challenges.
Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno said the bill would also establish a legal framework for regulating the increasing number of vigilante groups operating across the country.
The State Police Bill remains one of the most consequential constitutional reform proposals under consideration. Proponents argue that it would enhance intelligence gathering, improve accountability and enable faster responses to security threats. Critics, however, continue to warn that state-controlled police forces could be used by governors to target political opponents.
Despite these concerns, lawmakers are expected to use today’s emergency sitting to demonstrate their determination to advance a reform many believe is critical to addressing Nigeria’s long-standing security crisis.