The Senate on Wednesday passed a constitutional amendment bill seeking the establishment of state police across Nigeria, marking a significant step in ongoing efforts to reform the country’s security architecture.
Before the vote, lawmakers agreed to abandon the use of the Senate’s electronic voting system after the device experienced technical problems during proceedings.
The decision followed concerns that the malfunction could prevent some senators from participating in the voting process. To ensure that every member had the opportunity to cast a vote, the chamber adopted a manual voting method.
Under the arrangement, senators were required to stand individually, identify themselves, and publicly state their positions on the proposed state police framework.
The motion to switch to manual voting was moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and received the support of the chamber.
Following the exercise, the Senate approved the bill, paving the way for the creation of state police through constitutional amendments aimed at strengthening security and enhancing policing at the sub-national level.
Senate Passes Bill to Establish State Police
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