Senate President Godswill Akpabio
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday, appealed to lawmakers to ensure full attendance at Wednesday’s plenary session as the National Assembly prepares for what could become one of the most consequential constitutional votes in Nigeria’s democratic history—the proposed amendment to establish state police services across the federation.
The appeal came amid growing momentum for the long-debated decentralisation of Nigeria’s policing system, a reform widely advocated by security experts, governors and community leaders as a response to persistent challenges posed by insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
Speaking during an emergency plenary session of the Senate, Akpabio described the State Police Bill as a landmark piece of legislation capable of reshaping Nigeria’s security architecture and strengthening grassroots security management.
The Senate President stressed that constitutional amendments require broad participation by lawmakers and urged senators to view the exercise as a solemn national responsibility rather than a routine legislative duty.
