Rivers Assembly Endorses Constitutional Amendment for State Police

The Rivers State House of Assembly has endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.

The resolution was adopted on Monday during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, following the consideration of a constitutional amendment bill transmitted to the Assembly by the National Assembly.

Amaewhule read a letter from the Clerk of the National Assembly before presenting the bill containing the proposed alterations to facilitate the establishment of state police.

The Speaker subsequently put the proposal to a vote, with lawmakers unanimously endorsing the bill.

He said the decision was informed by the need to strengthen Nigeria’s security framework and support ongoing security reforms under President Bola Tinubu.

According to Amaewhule, the bill contains 26 clauses, including 25 proposed alterations involving substitutions to provisions of the principal Act.

He listed Sections 84(4), 89(2), 121(3), 124(4), 109(2), 153(1), 157(2), 158(1) and 160 among the provisions proposed for amendment.

“These votes and proceedings are hereby adopted as a working document of this House,” the Speaker said.

Amaewhule explained that the proposed amendment would provide a constitutional framework for establishing state police services, subject to the provisions of the Constitution.

He added that the amendment, if passed, would strengthen the role of the National Assembly in prescribing national minimum standards for policing.

The Rivers Assembly is expected to formally communicate its resolution to the National Assembly through an official letter as part of the constitutional amendment process.

The proposed alteration requires approval by state Houses of Assembly across the federation before it can proceed to the next stage of the amendment process.