The Senate has pushed back against criticism trailing the passage of the Constitution Alteration Bill on State Police, arguing that the proposed reform is a practical response to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges rather than a politically motivated exercise.
In a statement on Sunday, the upper chamber described the legislation as the outcome of extensive consultations and growing national consensus on the need to decentralise policing and improve local security responses.
According to the Senate, the increasing complexity of insecurity across the country has exposed the limitations of a centrally controlled policing system, making constitutional reforms necessary to strengthen law enforcement at the grassroots level.
The lawmakers maintained that the State Police Bill emerged from years of dialogue involving stakeholders from different regions, political parties, traditional institutions, and civil society groups. They stressed that the initiative should be viewed as a national security intervention designed to complement existing federal structures.
The Senate further noted that concerns over potential abuse of state-controlled police formations had been addressed through constitutional safeguards embedded in the proposed legislation, including oversight mechanisms and accountability provisions.
Reaffirming its commitment to democratic governance, the chamber said the bill seeks to bring security closer to communities, improve intelligence gathering, and enhance rapid response capabilities in tackling crime and violence.
The Senate urged Nigerians to assess the proposal on its merits, insisting that the reform represents a significant step toward building a more responsive and effective security architecture for the country.