The Kaduna State House of Assembly has approved a constitutional amendment proposal to allow the establishment of state police services.
Lawmakers gave their approval at Thursday’s plenary, presided over by Deputy Speaker Henry Dajuma. The National Assembly had sent the proposal to the state legislature for its concurrence.
The vote endorses a proposed change to the Constitution; it does not by itself establish an operational Kaduna police service.
House Committee on Information Chairman Henry Marah, who represents Jaba constituency, said the proposal would give states a stronger role in community security and local responses to banditry and other crimes.
Marah said the current arrangement limited state governments’ ability to hold police authorities directly accountable for security failures. He also said the Assembly would enact laws governing the operations and welfare of state police personnel when the proposal takes effect.
Vanguard listed Kaduna among 24 states that had approved the amendment, reporting that the required state-assembly endorsement benchmark had been reached.
Marah said funding would take priority over some other spending. “We are ready to prioritise funding for the state police, even if it means reducing expenditure on other projects,” Punch quoted him as saying.
Sources: Punch, Vanguard
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