The Kaduna State House of Assembly has approved a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for the establishment of state police services.
The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to Provide for the Establishment of State Police Services and for Related Matters, 2006,” was transmitted to the state legislature by the National Assembly for concurrence.
The approval was given during Thursday’s plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Henry Dajuma.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the session, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Henry Marah, who represents Jaba State Constituency, said the lawmakers supported the proposed state police system to strengthen security and improve responses to crimes.
Marah said the initiative would enhance community security, protect lives and property, and create employment opportunities for young people.
He said the current security arrangement restricted state governments’ ability to hold police authorities directly accountable for security failures.
According to him, the proposed state police system would provide a legal framework for community-based security initiatives and strengthen local responses to banditry and other criminal activities.
Marah added that the Assembly would enact appropriate laws to regulate the operations and welfare of personnel of the proposed outfit when the initiative takes effect.
On funding, the lawmaker assured residents that the state would prioritise the financing of the security outfit, even if it meant cutting expenditure on other projects.
He said, “We are ready to prioritise funding for the state police, even if it means reducing expenditure on other projects.”
Marah urged residents to support the proposed arrangement, expressing optimism that improved security would enable farmers to return to their farms and harvest their produce without fear of kidnapping.
In another development, the lawmaker disclosed that the Assembly was considering an amendment to the Kaduna State Library Board Law to transform public libraries into electronic libraries and information and communication technology centres.
He said the proposed amendment would enable the centres to coordinate electronic library services across the state’s 23 local government areas.
According to him, the centres would provide free internet access and assist students with registration for examinations conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and the West African Examinations Council.
Marah said the initiative would reduce the burden on students who currently travel long distances to access such services.
He also disclosed that the Assembly was deliberating on a bill seeking to establish the Kaduna State Local Government Service Commission.