The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has assured Nigerians that the proposed creation of state police will not allow governors to control security agencies for personal or political interests.
Abbas said the planned constitutional amendment would include measures to prevent abuse while improving community policing and maintaining federal supervision over security operations.
He made the statement on Wednesday during the National Security Roundtable held as part of the 2026 National Assembly Open Week in Abuja. The Speaker said the House would carefully review the state police proposal to ensure it strengthens security without threatening democratic values.
According to him, the proposed amendment is among the major reforms currently before the National Assembly, adding that it marks the first time a sitting Nigerian president has officially forwarded a bill seeking the establishment of state police.
He credited President Bola Tinubu for moving the discussion from years of debate to a formal legislative process, noting that previous governments had considered the idea but failed to take steps toward implementation.
Abbas said concerns over possible misuse by state governors were understandable, but added that the proposed law had been designed with checks to prevent state police from becoming instruments for political control.
He explained that Nigeria’s growing security problems have shown the limits of a fully centralised policing system, especially with the country’s large population and diverse communities.
The Speaker listed issues such as kidnapping, bandit attacks, clashes between farmers and herders, and threats to schools as security challenges that require quicker responses and better understanding of local environments.
He said a single national police structure may not be able to effectively monitor every community, road and region across the country, making the need for a more decentralised approach necessary.
Under the proposed arrangement, the Nigeria Police Force would become the Federal Police Service, while states that meet the requirements would be allowed to establish their own police services through laws passed by their state assemblies.
Abbas said state police units would only begin operations after meeting national standards set by the National Assembly. He added that the Federal Police Service would continue handling issues such as terrorism, border security, federal crimes and security within the Federal Capital Territory.
He further stated that state commissioners of police would be appointed through a process involving the National Police Council and state lawmakers, while their removal would require strong legislative approval.
The Speaker added that the federal police would have the authority to intervene if a state police service fails, is misused or becomes a threat to citizens. Such intervention, he said, would follow constitutional rules and involve oversight from relevant institutions.
Abbas advised that the implementation of state police should be gradual rather than introducing the system across all states at once. He said states should first develop the required structures and capacity before creating their own police services.
He also warned that funding must be properly addressed to prevent states from establishing security agencies they cannot maintain, as unpaid officers could create further problems.
Using examples from countries with federal systems, Abbas said successful decentralised policing requires clear national standards, cooperation between security agencies, strong intelligence networks and proper accountability.
He called for the creation of a national criminal and biometric database, improved information sharing among security bodies, stronger border protection and better welfare and equipment for security personnel.
The debate over state police has continued for years, with supporters arguing that local policing would improve responses to security threats, while critics fear governors could use such forces against political rivals.
Previous attempts to introduce state police through constitutional reforms failed due to disagreements among stakeholders. However, the current move by the Tinubu administration has placed the issue at the centre of ongoing constitutional amendment discussions.
Abbas said the House of Representatives would work to ensure the proposed reform improves security while protecting citizens and democratic institutions.
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