State Police, Security Top Agenda As Senate Reconvenes Today

The Senate has said national security concerns and the proposed State Police Bill will dominate deliberations at its emergency plenary session scheduled for today.

LEADERSHIP Reports that the lawmakers are moving to address Nigeria’s worsening security challenges during deliberations.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs and Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, disclosed this to LEADERSHIP in Abuja on Monday, noting that the State Police Bill ranks among the most critical issues before the upper legislative chamber.

Adaramodu, who represents Ekiti South Senatorial District, said the Senate is currently awaiting the report of the relevant committee to which the bill was referred after scaling second reading.

He explained that the committee’s recommendations would guide further legislative action on the proposed constitutional amendment.

“The Senate will be considering matters of public interest, especially national security,” Adaramodu said. “The State Police legislation will undoubtedly be a priority issue.”

He reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture through legislative interventions aimed at tackling banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes across the country.

According to him, the National Assembly remains open to collaborating with the Executive arm of government and other stakeholders to restore peace and improve security nationwide.

“The Senate is desirous of partnering with other arms of government in curbing the undesirable activities of bandits, terrorists and other peace-threatening marauders,” he added.

The emergency plenary session is scheduled for Tuesday, 23 June 2026, at 11:00 a.m.

The Senate formally notified lawmakers of the sitting through a memo issued on 15 June by the Clerk of the Senate, Mr Emmanuel Odo.

The notice indicated that the session was convened at the instance of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to deliberate on matters considered critical to the nation’s stability and security.

According to the notice, the emergency session will focus on urgent national issues, particularly national security and other pressing concerns requiring immediate legislative intervention.

“The Senate regrets any inconvenience this emergency sitting may cause and urges all distinguished senators to make the necessary arrangements to attend,” the notice stated.

The proposed State Police Bill, which the House of Representatives passed in the penultimate week, remains one of the most consequential constitutional reform initiatives before the National Assembly in recent years.

Advocates argue that decentralising policing powers would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community-based security operations and enable state governments to respond more effectively to local security threats.

Nigeria currently operates a centralised policing system under the control of the Federal Government through the Nigeria Police Force.

However, persistent security challenges, including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and communal violence in several parts of the country, have renewed calls for the establishment of state-controlled police formations.

Supporters of the proposal maintain that state police would complement federal security efforts and enhance law enforcement efficiency, while critics have expressed concerns about possible political abuse by state governments.

Despite differing perspectives, Adaramodu maintained that the Senate remains committed to advancing reforms to improve national security, promote stability, and safeguard the lives and property of Nigerians.

The emergency session is expected to provide lawmakers with an opportunity to deliberate on key security reforms and chart a legislative path to address Nigeria’s most pressing security challenges.