The Imo State House of Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution supporting a bill to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, to provide for the establishment of state police services.
The move is part of efforts to restructure Nigeria’s security architecture to respond more effectively to security threats across the country, amid concerns about the capacity of the centralised policing system.
Leading the debate during plenary, the Leader of the House and member representing Owerri West State Constituency, Hon. Chief Kanayo Onyemaechi, said strengthening the country’s security architecture was necessary to improve responses to security threats and safeguard lives and property.
Onyemaechi explained that the National Assembly had transmitted a bill seeking to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, to provide for the establishment of state police services and related matters, to the Imo State House of Assembly for consideration and approval by resolution.
He noted that state police, when established, would complement the Nigeria Police Force by strengthening security coordination at both state and community levels. He said the House would therefore be discharging its statutory responsibility by considering the proposed constitutional alteration and stating its position.
The Leader of the House noted that the National Assembly’s action complied with the constitutional requirement that state assemblies give their consent by a two-thirds majority for the process to be completed.
He urged his fellow lawmakers to support the bill seeking to amend the Constitution to establish state police.
He argued that insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality, could be tackled more effectively through local policing arrangements, adding that effective policing, as practised in advanced countries, was often local and better handled at the community level.
The motion was seconded by the Chief Whip and member representing Oru East State Constituency, Hon. Chigozie Nwaneri, and supported by Hon. Clinthon Amadi, representing Owerri Municipal Council, and 21 other lawmakers.
The lawmakers made contributions in support of the proposal, arguing that insecurity was a local problem that required strong responses from the communities affected. They said residents were familiar with the security challenges in their immediate environments and could therefore be better positioned to address them. They also identified the proposed state police system as a potential source of employment.
Following the debate in support of the constitutional alteration to establish state police, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe, directed the Clerk of the House to communicate the Assembly’s resolution to the Clerk of the National Assembly for further legislative action.
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