Abuja: Senators have defended the National Assembly’s decision to prioritise constitutional amendments on the establishment of state police, saying the country’s worsening insecurity makes the proposal an urgent national priority. The lawmakers gave the clarification while responding to concerns that the national assembly appeared to be focusing more on state police than on other constitutional amendment proposals.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, emphasised that insecurity remained the foremost concern of Nigerians. Bamidele, speaking through his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, highlighted that this was why priority seemed to be given to state police. As the Deputy Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, he asserted that the 10th National Assembly could not afford to downplay issues relating to state police, especially given the ongoing security challenges threatening lives and property across the country.
Additionally, the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Abba Moro (PDP-Benue South), dismissed suggestions that other constitutional amendment proposals had been abandoned. Moro explained that the Constitution Review Committee had deliberately segmented the amendment process to fast-track urgent issues, particularly state police. He assured that while state police is being addressed now, other constitutional amendment proposals will follow in the coming months.
Sen. Ali Ndume (APC-Borno South) also highlighted that security remained the primary responsibility of government, making the establishment of state police a necessary constitutional reform. As the chair of the Senate Committee on Army, Ndume advocated for local government police to further strengthen grassroots security, emphasising that constitutional amendments should meet current security exigencies.
Sen. Anthony Ani (APC-Ebonyi South) reasoned that addressing the most pressing constitutional issue first, such as security, is logical before moving to others. He reassured that once the state police issue is settled, the assembly will continue with other constitutional amendment proposals.
The report from the News Agency of Nigeria also outlines other alteration bills before the 10th National Assembly. These include bills for 35 percent affirmative action for women in appointments, special seats for women in national and state assemblies, citizenship rights for women married to foreigners, and various Electoral and Political Reforms Bills. Local government autonomy bills, including financial autonomy and the recognition of local government as a third tier of government, are also on the agenda of the lawmakers.