N’Assembly Will Create State Police Anchored On Accountability – Bamidele

Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, on Sunday revealed that the National Assembly has begun work on a decentralised police model aimed at promoting accountability and curbing the misuse of the police by the political class.

Bamidele, who also serves as vice chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, said the parliament “is committed to crafting a framework for a decentralised police model that will serve the interests of all, regardless of their status.”

He made these remarks in a statement issued to journalists in Abuja to celebrate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 74th birthday, while commending the president for initiatives aimed at securing and stabilising Nigeria.

Amid rising security challenges, stakeholders have advocated for a decentralised police system that reflects Nigeria’s federal character and ensures effective protection of lives and property across the country.

While President Tinubu has openly supported the model, the Nigeria Police Force recently submitted a 75-page comprehensive framework to the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, for legislative review and consideration.

In his statement, Bamidele commended Tinubu for collaborating with the National Assembly to address the country’s security challenges, noting that the president has been exploring solutions beyond traditional methods to tackle extremism, terrorism, and armed attacks.

“The president has already lent his voice to the creation of a decentralised police model as part of measures to ensure the security of lives, private property, and public installations across the federation,” Bamidele said.

He explained that the model “is designed to devolve policing powers to sub-national authorities, ensuring effective governance even in the remotest parts of our country. This is one request the National Assembly has been treating as a priority.”

The senate leader added that the proposed framework “will incorporate accountability mechanisms to prevent abuse of power by the political class, reinforce justice administration, discourage impunity, and set guardrails for the preservation of fundamental human rights. All these initiatives reflect the shared commitment of the Presidency and the National Assembly to securing Nigeria better.”

Marking Tinubu’s 74th birthday, Bamidele celebrated the president’s achievements, describing him as “a man of history, purpose, and vision who rose above barriers to steer the nation through turbulent times. His reforms, though initially challenging, are now yielding results that promise a greater Nigeria.”

He noted that Tinubu “has remained firm and resolute, leading our country daily with conviction, resilience, dexterity, and patriotism, despite the difficult times we are experiencing.”

Bamidele highlighted the president’s long-standing commitment to national development, from his early days as a progressive enthusiast in the corporate sector to his pro-democracy efforts in the Third Republic.

He cited Tinubu’s tenure as Governor of Lagos State, where he implemented reforms that transformed the state into a globally recognised city-state, as well as his current role as Nigeria’s 16th President.

He said, “As president, Tinubu has made tough policy choices that his predecessors could not decisively make, moving the nation from uncertainty toward a path of promise and prosperity. His macroeconomic reforms strengthened the naira, increased foreign reserves from $35.09 billion in May 2023 to $50.02 billion in March 2026—a 42.54 per cent increase—and accelerated foreign capital inflows into the country.”

Bamidele also praised the 2025 Tax Reform Acts, describing them as “far-reaching initiatives that recalibrated Nigeria’s fiscal landscape, increased statutory transfers to subnational governments by 111 per cent, improved the business environment, and enhanced tax administration at all levels. These initiatives rescued Nigeria from recurring liquidity crises that could have led to insolvency.”

He concluded by affirming that the decentralised police model, anchored in accountability and global best practices, remains a priority for the National Assembly as part of broader efforts to secure the nation.