By Ogalla Daniel
The Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, has called on members of the Assembly to support the proposed establishment of state police in Nigeria, describing the constitutional amendment bill as an important step towards strengthening security and protecting lives and property.
Yusuf made the call while delivering an address during the plenary session of the House to consider the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish state police across the country.
The Speaker described the plenary as a significant moment in the legislative history of the state, noting that members had an important responsibility to determine Kogi State’s position on the proposed constitutional amendment.
He said the establishment of state police had remained a subject of national debate for decades, with individuals, civil society organisations and other stakeholders advocating the initiative as a way of strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.
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According to him, the growing challenges of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder conflicts, political thuggery and other criminal activities have intensified calls for a decentralised policing system that can respond more effectively to local security concerns.
Citing Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, Yusuf emphasised that the security and welfare of the people remain the primary responsibility of government.
He explained that state police could complement the operations of the Nigeria Police Force by providing security personnel with better knowledge of local communities, their environments and the peculiar security challenges confronting them.
The Speaker added that establishing state police could improve response times, reduce administrative bottlenecks and facilitate more effective security operations across the various states of the federation.
Yusuf also identified employment generation as one of the potential benefits of the proposed initiative, stating that the establishment of state police could create job opportunities for young people.
He noted that unemployment remained a significant social challenge in Nigeria and expressed optimism that the proposed reform could contribute to addressing the problem through recruitment into state policing institutions.
The Speaker explained that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had proposed the constitutional amendment bill, which was subsequently considered by the National Assembly and transmitted to state Houses of Assembly for consideration in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution.
He stressed that the consideration of the bill required the active participation of all lawmakers, describing it as a national issue with direct implications for the safety and welfare of their constituents.
Yusuf urged members of the Kogi State House of Assembly to support the bill, saying that concurrence would demonstrate the state’s commitment to exploring additional measures to protect residents and strengthen public safety.
He further encouraged lawmakers to approach the consideration of the bill with a sense of responsibility, noting that their decision would contribute to the ongoing national discussion on the future of policing and internal security in Nigeria.
The Speaker concluded by urging members to support the proposed constitutional amendment, describing the plenary as an opportunity for Kogi State to participate in shaping the country’s security framework.
