…Says decision will shape policing in Nigeria for decades
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday, urged senators to support the State Police Establishment Bill, saying the decision before them would shape the future of policing and public safety in Nigeria for generations.
Akpabio made the appeal as the Senate opened debate on the constitutional amendment seeking to create state police.
New Telegraph reports that no vote has been taken yet, but the chamber is expected to vote on the bill and pass it by a two-thirds vote of the entire Senate membership.
Speaking at the opening of the plenary, the Senate President said, “In the peace, order, security, and good governance of our nation, the matter we are about to go into is of profound national importance.
He said citizens across the country are looking to leaders and institutions for “innovative, effective, and sustainable solutions” to guarantee the safety of lives and property.
The bill was transmitted by President Bola Tinubu to the Senate on Tuesday as an executive proposal and is to be presented by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.
Akpabio said the amendment, already circulated to senators, represents a significant contribution to how Nigeria secures communities and strengthens its federal system.
“This Senate will be judged not only by the laws we pass but also by our willingness to confront difficult national questions with courage, patriotism, and foresight.
“Today’s deliberation offers us such a moment. Whatever our individual perspectives may be, we must approach the debate guided solely by national interest, constitutional principles, and the collective welfare of the Nigerian people.”
The President of the Senate urged lawmakers to contribute “freely, respectfully, and thoughtfully,” drawing on regional experiences and collective wisdom.
“This has never been done since independence in 1960. The decisions we take will have the potential to shape the future of policing, public safety, and security in Nigeria for generations to come,” Akpabio said.
“We must therefore proceed with the seriousness, diligence, and sense of responsibility that this moment demands of all of us.”
He commended the Constitutional Amendment Committee for nearly two years of work on the proposal and praised senators for cutting short their recess to attend the session, calling it an act of patriotism.
“In the name of God, may our deliberations advance the cause of national unity. May our deliberations strengthen our democracy. May our deliberations contribute meaningfully to a safer and more secure Nigeria,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, shortly after Akpabio ended reading his opening remarks, the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, moved a motion for the Chamber to go into closed session to, according to him, discuss matters of national interest before returning to debate the all-important bill.
Feelers have it that the closed session was necessitated by the apprehension within the Senate leadership that some members of the apex assembly might oppose the bill and frustrate its passage by ensuring that the two-thirds requirement, which is 73 out of 109 senators, would be achieved.
Therefore, it is expected that the senators would go into serious lobbying during the closed session, to convince prospective opponents of the bill, to have a smooth sale during its consideration
If passed by both chambers and ratified by state assemblies, the amendment would mark a fundamental shift in how Nigeria polices itself.
