From Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
The Yobe State House of Assembly has approved a proposal for the establishment of a State Police Service alongside 25 other bills seeking alterations to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The approval followed deliberations during plenary on the proposed constitutional amendment bills transmitted by the National Assembly to state legislatures for consideration and voting.
Speaking on the resolutions, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Chiroma Buba Mashio, said the bills were forwarded to state assemblies to consider the proposed constitutional changes in accordance with the requirements for amending the nation’s supreme law.
Mashio explained that the proposed establishment of a State Police Service would provide a constitutional framework for states to operate their own police services alongside the existing Nigeria Police Force.
He said the proposal formed part of ongoing national discussions on security sector reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to address emerging security challenges.
The proposed constitutional alterations cover 26 bills seeking amendments to various provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
The approval by the Yobe Assembly represents the position of the state legislature on the proposals, which form part of the constitutional amendment process involving state Houses of Assembly across the country.