NIGERIA: Gbajabiamila, Governors Observe Plenary As Senate Votes On State Police Bill

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

The Senate on Wednesday commenced clause-by-clause manual voting on the proposed constitutional amendment seeking the establishment of state police across Nigeria, marking a critical stage in the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution.

The exercise, aimed at decentralising policing and strengthening security at the subnational level, attracted the presence of several high-ranking government officials, including the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, as well as Uba Sani, Dapo Abiodun and Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who were admitted into the Senate chamber after lawmakers suspended relevant rules to allow them observe proceedings.

The decision to adopt manual voting followed concerns over malfunctioning electronic voting devices that could prevent some senators from participating in the process.

Under the arrangement, each senator was required to stand, announce his or her name and openly declare a position on the proposed state police framework. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who moved the motion for manual voting, said the procedure would guarantee transparency and ensure that no lawmaker was disenfranchised.

The motion was seconded by Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro. Earlier resistance to admitting governors and other officials into the chamber was overturned after an appeal by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who argued that the proposed amendment would ultimately require approval by state Houses of Assembly and therefore warranted the close attention of key stakeholders.

If eventually passed by the National Assembly and endorsed by the required number of state legislatures, the amendment would pave the way for the creation of state-controlled police forces to operate alongside the Nigeria Police Force.