President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has appealed to senators to ensure full attendance at Wednesday’s plenary session as the National Assembly prepares to consider the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police services across Nigeria.
Speaking during Tuesday’s plenary, Akpabio described the State Police Bill as a landmark legislation capable of transforming Nigeria’s security architecture and addressing growing security challenges across the country.
He emphasized that constitutional amendments require broad participation by lawmakers and urged senators to treat the exercise as a national responsibility.
“Since 1960, Nigeria did not have the courage to decentralize policing and this is the first time,” Akpabio said. “As we struggle to become senators, let us also remember the responsibilities of being a senator. It is not enough for us to look for tickets and when we get the ticket, we don’t come to the chambers.”
The Senate President noted that the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) would allow for the establishment of state police services while incorporating safeguards against abuse through subsequent legislation.
According to him, the initiative will strengthen community-based policing by enabling local governments, traditional institutions, village leaders, and youth groups to participate more actively in maintaining security and providing intelligence.
Akpabio said local communities are often better positioned to identify suspicious individuals and criminal elements, adding that state policing would improve proactive security responses across the country.
The Senate President directed the Senate Committee on Constitution Review to submit its report on the bill by Wednesday, June 24, 2026, to enable immediate legislative action.
Also speaking, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele underscored the importance of lawmakers’ attendance, stressing that constitutional alterations require the support of at least two-thirds of senators.
“We need a minimum of two-thirds of distinguished senators to be able to vote on constitutional alteration. That means it is important for all of us to be here,” Bamidele said.
He described the state police proposal as a non-partisan national issue that cuts across political parties, geopolitical zones, and regional interests, urging principal officers and lawmakers to reach out to absent colleagues and ensure their participation.
The Senate adjourned to Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., when lawmakers are expected to debate and vote on the proposed constitutional amendment, a move widely regarded as one of the most significant security reforms in Nigeria’s democratic history.
