WHY WE RESCINDED STATE POLICE BILL FOR TINUBU’S PROPOSAL — REPS

The House of Representatives on Tuesday explained that it rescinded its earlier constitutional amendment bill on state police to enable lawmakers consider President Bola Tinubu’s Executive Bill, saying the move was aimed at ensuring a coherent constitutional framework for the proposed policing system.

The House said the decision should not be interpreted as a withdrawal of its support for state police but as a legislative step to align with the Executive’s proposal.

House spokesman, Akin Rotimi, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.

Rotimi explained that the Green Chamber had passed its version of the State Police Constitution Alteration Bill on June 11, 2026, and constituted a 12-member Conference Committee on July 9 to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions.

He, however, said the President’s Executive Bill introduced new considerations that required a different legislative approach.

“Following the transmission of the Executive Bill, the House determined that new considerations relating to the structure, framework, and implementation of State Police Services necessitated an efficient legislative approach to ensure a coherent constitutional framework consistent with Nigeria’s evolving national security architecture,” the statement read.

The House said the decision followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Rep. Francis Waive.

It added that lawmakers rescinded the earlier resolution and dissolved the Conference Committee to pave the way for consideration of the Executive Bill.

According to the statement, the Executive Bill, titled Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2026 (HB. 2797), passed first and second readings on Tuesday after the debate was led by the House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere.

The bill was subsequently referred to the House Committee on Constitution Review for further legislative action.

The House stressed that the decision did not amount to abandoning the state police initiative.

“The House emphasised that its decision should not be construed as a withdrawal of legislative support for State Police. Rather, it reflects the resolve of the House, working in concert with the Executive, to ensure that the constitutional framework establishing State Police Services is comprehensive, effective, and responsive to Nigeria’s evolving security realities,” the statement said.

Rotimi added that the House remained committed to constitutional reforms through “a transparent and rigorous legislative process that strengthens Nigeria’s democratic institutions and responds effectively to the nation’s evolving governance and security needs.”

PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the House withdrew its bill after Tinubu transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the National Assembly.

In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, the President urged lawmakers to expedite consideration of the proposal, describing it as a key component of his administration’s security reform agenda.