Nigeria's House of Representatives has resolved to withdraw its earlier state police bill and give priority to the executive version transmitted by President Bola Tinubu, in a notable shift on one of the country's most consequential security reforms. The announcement was made by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, during a session of the National Assembly.
According to the Speaker, the President has now transmitted to the National Assembly an executive version of the state police bill, one that he described as more robust and more comprehensive than the version the House had earlier passed. On that basis, the chamber decided to step back from its own text and align its work with the executive proposal.
The House will therefore recall the version it earlier passed and accord the executive bill the expedited consideration that a matter of this urgency deserves, the Speaker said. The move effectively redirects the legislative effort toward the President's proposal rather than the one lawmakers had themselves advanced.
Addressing one of the main concerns around the reform, Tajudeen Abbas said the executive bill contains sufficient safeguards to prevent the abuse of state police, while ensuring accountability and federal oversight. He made clear that he understood the worries surrounding the creation of state police and considered them reasonable.
The Speaker gave voice to that fear directly, pointing to the concern that a state police could become the private army of a governor or a political godfather. By stressing the safeguards built into the executive bill, he sought to reassure both lawmakers and the public that the proposed structure would not be turned into a tool of political control.
During the debate, a state governor advocated intelligence-led policing, greater interagency collaboration and the use of technology, while lawmakers were urged to sponsor security bills. It was argued that threats such as terrorism, transnational organized crime, cybercrime, illicit arms trafficking and attacks on schools have evolved into multidimensional challenges that transcend conventional policing.
The discussion unfolded during the National Assembly's Open Week. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, urged Nigerians to read bills, follow the legislative process and engage Parliament constructively, saying the aim of the initiative is to keep citizens informed and to invite them not merely to observe lawmakers, but to challenge them where they believe things can be done better.