The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, has backed the proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police but called for greater state control over policing and provisions for parliamentary policing to protect lawmakers....
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, has backed the proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police but called for greater state control over policing and provisions for parliamentary policing to protect lawmakers.
Obasa made the position known during plenary as the Assembly considered the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, transmitted to state legislatures by the National Assembly.
He commended President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, for their roles in advancing the proposed amendment.
Describing the move to establish state police as a step in the right direction, Obasa said the proposal reflected a long-standing aspiration to strengthen security across the country.
However, he expressed concern that the proposed provisions still concentrated substantial powers over policing at the federal level.
“While the proposed amendment represents a step in the right direction, there is still room for improvement to ensure that future administrations can strengthen the provisions and grant states greater authority in managing their security systems,” he said.
The Lagos Assembly Speaker also called for parliamentary policing to safeguard lawmakers, protect legislative institutions and enable legislators to perform their duties without threats to their safety.
He said protecting the legislature was essential to preserving its independence, strengthening democratic institutions and sustaining democracy.
Obasa reiterated his appreciation to Tinubu and the National Assembly leadership for advancing the state police proposal, urging all tiers of government to prioritise the security and welfare of Nigerians.
He also commended serving and former members of the Lagos Assembly for their contributions to legislative development and democratic governance.
Following the Assembly’s resolution in support of the proposed amendment, Obasa directed the Clerk, Adenike Oshinowo, to formally communicate the House’s position to the National Assembly.