By Shamsuddeen Mannir Atiku
Kaduna State House of Assembly has endorsed proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for the establishment of state police as part of efforts to strengthen security and improve responses to emerging threats.
The Assembly’s spokesperson and member representing Jaba Constituency, Hon. Henry Marah, disclosed this while reviewing the outcome of the House proceedings.
Mr Marah said the lawmakers supported the constitutional amendment transmitted by the National Assembly, noting that the centralised policing system required restructuring to address prevailing security challenges.
He explained that state police would give governors and state authorities greater capacity to respond to threats within their jurisdictions, adding that although state governments contribute to policing infrastructure, they have limited control over police operations.
The lawmaker also advocated a legal framework for community security groups, including civilian Joint Task Forces, to strengthen local protection against banditry and other criminal activities.
He said community-based policing would improve intelligence gathering, protect vulnerable residents and enable farmers to return safely to their farms without fear of abduction.
Also speaking, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Assembly and member representing Zaria City Constituency, Barrister Mahmud Lawal Ismaila, said the constitutional amendments were necessary to establish state police and provide a legal framework for decentralising the country’s policing system.
Alhaji Ismaila explained that Section 9 of the Constitution requires the approval of at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly for certain constitutional alterations, and the proposed changes also include renaming the Police Service Commission as the Federal Police Service Commission.
He expressed optimism that state police would enable state governments to recruit, train, fund and manage personnel according to their security needs.
He identified inadequate manpower, bureaucratic delays and centralised command as challenges affecting effective security operations.
The lawmaker added that decentralisation could facilitate faster responses to emergencies and create employment opportunities for young people.
Meanwhile, the Assembly considered a bill seeking to amend the Kaduna State Library Board Law, which passed its second reading and was referred to the Committees on Education and Judiciary for further examination.
However, consideration of a separate bill seeking to establish the Kaduna State Local Government Service Commission was stepped down until the next sitting to allow its sponsor to clarify whether it was intended as a new law, an amendment to an existing law or a replacement.
Ismaila said the decision was necessary to ensure clarity and proper legislative scrutiny before further consideration of the bill.
Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
