The House of Representatives has approved the State Police Bill, marking a major step toward decentralising Nigeria’s policing system.
The bill secured overwhelming support during Thursday’s plenary, with 289 lawmakers voting in favour. The session was presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
The lower chamber had dedicated Thursday’s sitting to deciding on the proposed legislation amid rising concerns over insecurity, including killings, kidnappings, and bandit attacks across the country.
Proceedings, however, witnessed a brief controversy when Bashir Zubairu, a lawmaker from Kaduna State, raised a point of order.
He argued that members had only received the report prepared by the House Committee on Constitution Review earlier in the day and had insufficient time to study it.
Addressing the chamber after being recognised by the Speaker, Zubairu stated, “Mr Speaker, this document was only made available to lawmakers in the chambers, and we are yet to go through it. We cannot do justice to it because we have not gone through it.”
Despite his objection, the Speaker ruled him out of order and directed that the process continue.
As Abbas proceeded to take lawmakers through the bill’s provisions, some members were heard shouting “Point of Order,” but the Speaker declined to entertain the interruptions.
Before voting commenced, Abbas informed members that the electronic voting system was not functioning, explaining that voting would instead be determined based on attendance records.
Of the 290 lawmakers present, 289 supported the establishment of state police, while only one member voted against the proposal.
The Speaker, Abbas did not participate in the vote.
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