The Nigerian House of Representatives has passed a Constitution Alteration Bill to establish State Police. The bill is part of President Bola Tinubu’s plan to decentralise policing and strengthen the country’s security system.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu backed the bill, saying it would improve community policing and intelligence gathering across the nation.

But the vote did not go smoothly. The minority caucus walked out in protest, accusing the House leadership of breaking parliamentary rules. They said the bill was not subjected to a clause-by-clause vote, which they consider a serious procedural breach.

The minority lawmakers said they support the idea of State Police in principle. However, they want more review to fix potential legal and institutional problems in the current proposal. They stressed that constitutional amendments need scrutiny because of their long-term consequences for the country.