Cross River Assembly begins debate on state police bill

The Cross River State House of Assembly has initiated an examination of a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at establishing State Police Services across all 36 states of the Nigerian federation. This bill, transmitted by the National Assembly to state legislatures, is titled: “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to Provide for the Establishment of State Police Services and for Related Matters in the 36 States of the Federation”.

The amendment seeks to create a constitutional framework for State Police Services, while retaining the Nigeria Police Force as the federal police service.

During the plenary session, the Assembly approved a motion to call for the correspondence to be received and laid on the table. Following this, the House deemed the bill a working document for further deliberation. Elvert Ayambem, the Speaker of the Assembly, announced that the proposal would follow the standard legislative process, including debate, before the House votes on it. The Assembly subsequently conducted the First Reading, marking the beginning of the bill's formal legislative consideration in the state.

This proposed amendment is part of the National Assembly's ongoing constitutional review process, which seeks to evaluate the creation of State Police Services in Nigeria.