The House of Representatives is set to adopt and pass the Senate version of the State Police bill with little public explanation, raising concerns over the lack of transparency in the legislative process.
According to lawmakers and civil society observers, no public hearing has been held on the bill, and its full details have not been made public to Nigerians. There has also been no open debate on a law that would fundamentally change Nigeria’s security structure and funding responsibilities.
What the Bill Proposes
The core provision of the bill shifts the responsibility for establishing and running state police forces from the federal government to individual states. This means states would bear the full financial and operational cost of their own policing systems.
The proposal carries significant implications for governance, national security architecture, and the balance of power between federal and state governments. Yet, citizens have not been given access to the draft or an opportunity to debate its merits.
Critics Raise Alarm Over Process
Neither the Senate nor the House has provided a clear explanation for why Nigerians have not been allowed access to the bill. Critics say this mirrors the process used in passing the Electoral Act, where many Nigerians were unaware of key contents until after passage.
Speaking at an Arise TV town hall on the issue, constitutional lawyer Prof. Chidi Odinkalu warned of the “grave dangers” the lack of public input poses to both citizens and Nigeria’s democratic system.
Opposition figures have also been accused of failing to challenge the process. “This is the worst set of opposition we have in this country. They are too docile, too lacking in focus, too uncoordinated,” one commentator stated.
“A Quiet Erosion of Public Right to Know”
Analysts argue that passing a bill of this magnitude without public hearing or debate is more than a procedural lapse. They describe it as a quiet erosion of the public’s right to know what is being done in their name.
“State Police cannot just be handed down to Nigerians without citizens making significant inputs. It doesn’t make any sense,” a civic leader said during the town hall.
As the bill advances, Nigerians are asking: Are we still practising constitutional democracy? With a law that will directly affect policing and security funding set to be passed in secrecy, many are calling for greater legislative transparency and public participation.