State Police: Hope Is Here, Kalu Assures Nigerians as Reps Set for Crucial Constitutional Vote

Abuja, June 10, 2026 — Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has assured Nigerians that the long-awaited legislative framework for the establishment of state police is now within reach, with the House scheduled to vote on the constitutional amendment on Thursday.

Addressing Parliamentary Correspondents after Wednesday's plenary session on the nation's security challenges, Kalu emphasized that the responsibility of securing lives and property rests not only on the executive arm of government but on all three arms of government. He stressed the need to deploy legislative instruments to address existing gaps in Nigeria's security architecture.

According to the Deputy Speaker, lawmakers have concluded that maintaining the status quo will not meet the expectations of Nigerians who look to government for solutions to the country's worsening security situation. Consequently, the House has prioritized legislative efforts aimed at strengthening security response mechanisms, with state policing at the center of the reforms.

Flanked by the 36 caucus leaders of the House, including that of the FCT, as well as regional and zonal leaders, Kalu said Parliament was moving decisively to deliver on the initiative.

He disclosed that broad consensus had already been reached among critical stakeholders, including the executive, governors, and security agencies. However, he noted that Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria would require consequential amendments to pave the way for the establishment of state police.

"We have discovered that leaving the law as it is will not give us the outcome Nigerians expect in the fight against insecurity. Therefore, we have decided to prioritize the issue of unbundling security response through legislative action for state police," Kalu said.

He added that the proposed framework had received the support of the Inspector-General of Police and his team, while national consensus had also been built around the initiative.

Kalu described the constitutional amendment process as a critical step toward improving response times to criminal incidents and enhancing public safety across the country.

The Deputy Speaker also dismissed reports suggesting that efforts were being made to frustrate the state police initiative.

"The Parliament is marching forward. By tomorrow, we will be concluding work on this. We have come to inform Nigerians that hope is here. The hope for better security response is here, and state police will feature prominently in our constitutional amendment process," he stated.

Expressing confidence in the support of state governments, Kalu said the bill would be transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly after passage by the National Assembly and subsequently forwarded to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.

He urged lawmakers currently on oversight assignments across the country to suspend their engagements and return to Abuja for Thursday's vote.

"We want all our members to be in the House so that we can demonstrate to our constituents that security remains our top priority and that we are united in support of state police," Kalu said.

The House is expected to take a decisive vote on the constitutional amendment on Thursday, a development many observers view as a major milestone in Nigeria's efforts to strengthen its security architecture.