Speakers of the five South-East Houses of Assembly have expressed support for the proposed constitutional amendment establishing State Police, saying a review of Nigeria’s security architecture is necessary to address security challenges in the region.
The position was reached during the South-East Zonal Conference of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria held in Awka, Anambra State. The meeting focused on legislative cooperation, security and the standardisation of legislative procedures across the zone.
The conference was chaired by the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly and Zonal Vice Chairman of the Conference, Somtochukwu Udeze.
Four of the five South-East Speakers attended the meeting: Udeze of Anambra State, Emmanuel Ihuoma Emeruwa of Abia State, Moses Ije Odunwa of Ebonyi State and Uche Ugwu of Enugu State. The Imo State Speaker was absent.
In a communique issued after the meeting, the Speakers identified insecurity as a major challenge requiring collective action across the South-East.
They also resolved to sustain legislative collaboration among the five Houses of Assembly, with the aim of promoting standardised procedures and uniform legislative best practices across the region.
The Speakers further pledged to work collectively with the five state governors and other stakeholders towards addressing insecurity and promoting good governance.
The discussions followed a lecture delivered by the former Permanent Secretary and Clerk Emeritus of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Chief Pius Udoh, titled, “Security Challenges, Constitutional Review and State Policing in Nigeria – The Role of the State Legislature.”
Udoh identified terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, farmer herder conflicts, communal conflicts, separatist violence, cybercrime, cultism, human trafficking and armed robbery among the security challenges confronting the country.
He explained that the proposed State Police framework could potentially improve local intelligence gathering and response to security threats, while reducing pressure on the Nigeria Police Force and creating additional opportunities for recruitment and specialised training.
Udoh said State Houses of Assembly would have important responsibilities if the constitutional amendment is approved, including concurring with the proposed amendment to establish State Police and participating in the development of relevant legislative and oversight frameworks.
He also advocated merit-based recruitment, professional training, independent oversight and cooperation among police formations across the South-East.
However, he cautioned against excessive executive control of State Police, stressing the importance of effective legislative oversight and institutional safeguards.
Udoh further argued that policing alone could not provide a lasting solution to insecurity, noting that sustainable security also requires good governance, economic opportunities, justice and strong institutions.
The Speakers also resolved to strengthen legislative cooperation across the five South-East states, including the sharing of legislative research, review of laws and development of common standards where appropriate.
The development comes as Nigeria’s proposed State Police constitutional amendment moves through the state-level approval process. The National Assembly has transmitted the relevant constitutional alteration bill to the 36 State Houses of Assembly, with the proposal requiring approval by at least 24 state legislatures before the constitutional amendment can proceed.
By Enitan Mudashiru | MUK TV News
