By Gambo Abubakar Kaduna
The Kaduna State House of Assembly has supported proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for the establishment of state police in Nigeria.
The Deputy Chief Whip of the Assembly and member representing Zaria City Constituency, Barrister Mahmud Lawal Ismaila, disclosed this while speaking on the outcome of the House plenary held at Old Chamber in Kaduna.
He said the lawmakers unanimously supported the proposed amendments affecting about 15 sections of the Constitution, following a request from the National Assembly for the input of state legislatures.
Honourable Ismaila however explained that the amendments were necessary to provide a constitutional framework for state police and change the name of the Police Service Commission to the Federal Police Service Commission.
He said the resolution of the Kaduna State Assembly would be transmitted to the National Assembly through the Clerk of the House.
The lawmaker expressed optimism that state police would help address security challenges by enabling state governments to recruit, train, finance and manage police personnel according to their security needs.
He identified inadequate police personnel, centralised command and bureaucratic delays as some of the challenges affecting security operations in the country.
According to him, allowing states to manage their police forces would improve responses to security threats, strengthen supervision and create employment opportunities for young people.
The Chairman house committee on education, further said, the House considered two bills during the plenary. The local government services board bill and t a bill seeking to amend the Kaduna State Library Board Law of 1979 passed its second reading and was referred to the Committees on Education and Judiciary for further consideration.
Which aimed at modernising public libraries in the state to meet contemporary educational and technological needs.
“the reform would promote electronic libraries, enabling students in secondary schools and tertiary institutions to access learning materials online from their classrooms and homes, also
the initiative would also encourage reading and improve access to educational resources through digital technology.
Here is the transcription of the audio from the video:
Honourabel Henry Marah, member representing Jaba State Constituency and the spokesman for the Kaduna State House of Assembly, explained the Assembly today was basically on three bills.
“bill that was transmitted to the House of Assembly from the National Assembly, the amendment to the Local Government Service Commission and Act to amendment of the Library Board Law.
The Chairman house committee on information noted that, the creation of state police bill that was considered is the bill that was transmitted to the Assembly for concurrence.
“every item on that bill was given a yes. because we don’t have to be static. Decision to create one Nigerian Police Force was done over 60 years ago or 70 years ago. If there is need for us to review it and structure it in such a way that it will be of benefit to us,.
“the governors as chief security officers of their states, don’t have the right over the army. In fact, we cannot even legislate over the force, while the state governments sponsor a lot of things about them. For instance, the police headquarters in Kaduna, it’s the state government that is renovating it.
“the establishment of state police, besides the employment it will create, what we what is more important for us now is the safety of lives and property of Nigerians.”
“today, you’ll not be talking of buying shirt, a luxury, getting medication, the issue of security is going to be our priority above every other thing else, without security, you can’t even go to the farm. work. Imagine you sleeping at night, you are thinking bandits will come to house.”
