The Senate is expected to return to Abuja on Tuesday for an emergency plenary session where lawmakers will consider the proposed State Police Bill, a constitutional amendment aimed at allowing states to establish and manage their own police formations.
The special sitting comes after the Senate was unable to complete work on the bill before proceeding on its three-week recess due to the absence of the number of lawmakers required to approve constitutional amendments.
Since changes to the Constitution require the support of at least two-thirds of senators, the legislation could not move forward before the break.
To avoid further delays, Senate leaders have held consultations with members across political parties and urged lawmakers to attend the emergency session.
The move reflects the determination of the National Assembly to advance one of the most discussed security reforms in the country.
Senate spokesperson Senator Yemi Adaramodu disclosed that matters relating to national security would dominate discussions during the sitting.
He stated that the State Police Bill remains one of the key issues before the chamber and that lawmakers are expected to receive reports from the committee handling the legislation after it was referred following its second reading.
According to him, the Senate is committed to working with other arms of government to tackle growing security threats, including terrorism, banditry and other forms of violent crime affecting many parts of the country.
If the bill secures final approval in the Senate, both chambers of the National Assembly will set up a joint committee to resolve any differences in their versions of the legislation.
After that stage, the proposal will be transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for approval, which is a constitutional requirement before the amendment can become law.
The emergency session is scheduled to take place at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja and was communicated to senators through a memo issued by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo.
The notice indicated that lawmakers were being recalled to address urgent national matters, particularly those connected to security challenges facing the country.
The decision to suspend the ongoing recess comes amid rising concern over attacks by terrorists, kidnappers, bandits and other criminal groups operating across different regions of Nigeria.
Lawmakers believe the issues require immediate legislative attention and have therefore decided to reconvene ahead of the previously scheduled resumption date.
Originally, members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives had adjourned plenary and were expected to resume legislative activities in July after observing the Democracy Day holiday and carrying out constituency engagements.
The renewed attention on the State Police Bill also follows increasing calls for stronger measures to address insecurity nationwide.
During his Democracy Day address earlier this month, President Bola Tinubu restated his administration’s commitment to fighting criminal groups and improving security across the country.
The Senate had earlier passed the bill for second reading on June 11 before referring it to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution for further consideration.
The proposed amendment seeks to transfer policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, giving state governments the legal authority to establish their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force.
To achieve this objective, the legislation proposes changes to several sections of the Constitution, including Sections 197, 214 and 215.
Supporters of the bill believe the reform will improve security operations by bringing law enforcement closer to local communities.
Leading the debate during the second reading, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele argued that state police would strengthen intelligence gathering because officers recruited within states would have a better understanding of local languages, traditions and community structures.
He noted that Nigeria continues to face a range of security threats, including terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, communal clashes, armed robbery, cult-related violence, pipeline vandalism and cybercrime.
According to him, these challenges have increased demands for a policing system that can respond more effectively to local realities.
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