State Police Bill Includes Strong Safeguards Against Abuse – Deputy Speaker Kalu

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has assured Nigerians and international partners that the proposed State Police Bill contains robust constitutional safeguards to prevent political misuse and ensure accountability.

Speaking during a reception hosted by the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, in Abuja on Tuesday, Kalu said the bill was carefully designed to address concerns that state governors could use state police for political purposes.

According to him, the proposed legislation establishes constitutional checks, independent oversight, professional recruitment standards, and coordinated command structures to ensure state police operate responsibly.

Kalu argued that Nigeria's current centralized policing system is no longer sufficient to address the country's growing security challenges, noting that many federal countries successfully combine local policing with national coordination.

He said community-based policing would improve security because officers familiar with local communities understand their terrain, people, and security concerns better.

The Deputy Speaker also appealed to the European Union to continue supporting Nigeria's constitutional amendment process through technical cooperation and legislative partnerships. He disclosed that the constitutional amendment bills have passed both chambers of the National Assembly and now require approval from at least 24 state Houses of Assembly before they can be sent to the President for assent.

In addition, Kalu urged support for the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, stressing that increasing women's representation in governance would strengthen democracy and boost Nigeria's economy.

He also highlighted other proposed constitutional reforms, including local government autonomy, judicial independence, electoral reforms, fiscal restructuring, citizenship reforms, and expanded human rights protections aimed at improving governance and national development.

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