Lagos Assembly okays state police, demands clear power-sharing

Lagos Assembly. Credit: Guardian

The Lagos State House of Assembly has backed the proposed establishment of state police but warned that the constitutional amendment before state legislatures must give states greater control over policing and clearly define the relationship between state and federal police authorities.

The Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, raised the concerns on Tuesday during plenary after lawmakers considered the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, transmitted to state Houses of Assembly by the National Assembly.

Obasa said the proposed amendment was a significant step towards addressing Nigeria’s security challenges but argued that the provisions did not yet sufficiently resolve questions about who would control and administer state police.

“While the proposed amendment represents a step in the right direction, there is still room for improvement to ensure that future administrations can strengthen the provisions and grant states greater authority in managing their security systems,” he said.

The Speaker said the demand for state police had persisted through successive National Assemblies, from the fifth to the 10th, as governments continue to seek ways to improve security and protect lives and property.

He said the current proposal represented progress because the long-standing demand was finally receiving constitutional attention, but cautioned that leaving substantial powers at the federal level could undermine the purpose of creating state police.

Obasa also called for clear constitutional provisions defining the functions and responsibilities of the proposed state police, warning that differences in the powers assigned to federal and state authorities could create an imbalance in the country’s policing structure.

This comes as state Houses of Assembly consider the constitutional alteration required to establish a State Police Service, with nearly 25 states already expressing support for the proposal.

He commended President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly leadership and state legislatures for pushing the amendment process, while urging lawmakers at all levels to ensure that the remaining concerns were addressed before the process was concluded.

Obasa used the debate to make a separate case for parliamentary policing, saying legislative institutions also required dedicated security arrangements to protect their independence.

He cited previous incidents in which state legislative complexes were allegedly demolished or locked at the instance of governors, arguing that parliamentary police could help prevent such occurrences and protect lawmakers from executive interference.

According to him, protecting legislative institutions was necessary to strengthen democratic governance and preserve the independence of the legislature.

“Protecting the legislature is essential to strengthening democratic institutions, preserving the independence of the legislative arm of government, and sustaining democracy in Nigeria,” he said.

Obasa directed the Clerk of the House, Adenike Oshinowo, to formally communicate the Lagos Assembly’s resolution to the National Assembly.