The House of Representatives on Tuesday withdrew its proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police and commenced consideration of a similar Executive bill transmitted by President Bola Tinubu.
The development was announced during Tuesday’s plenary, where the Executive sponsored State Police Bill passed first and second readings before being referred to the House Committee on Constitutional Review for further legislative consideration, according to a report by Punch.
The decision effectively suspends the House’s earlier proposal as lawmakers shift attention to the Executive backed amendment, which is expected to undergo detailed scrutiny at the committee stage before returning to the floor for further legislative action.
The committee is expected to examine the bill’s key provisions and make recommendations to the House ahead of its consideration at the next stage of the legislative process.
The move marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow for the establishment of state police, a proposal that has generated sustained national debate over its implications for security, governance and federalism.
The report quoted the House proceedings as indicating that “the House of Representatives has withdrawn its proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police, opting instead to consider a similar bill transmitted by the Executive.”
It further stated that “the Executive-sponsored state police bill” had passed its first and second readings and was subsequently referred to the House Committee on Constitutional Review for further legislative action.
