State Police Bill, national security top agenda as Senate holds emergency plenary today

The Senate has said national security concerns and the proposed State Police Bill will dominate deliberations at its emergency plenary session scheduled for today.

The upper chamber is expected to consider key legislative measures aimed at addressing worsening insecurity across the country, including banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, disclosed this in Abuja on Monday.

Adaramodu, who represents Ekiti South Senatorial District, said the State Police Bill remains one of the most significant issues before the Senate.

According to him, the chamber is awaiting the report of the committee handling the bill after it passed second reading.

> “The Senate will be considering matters of public interest, especially national security,” Adaramodu said.

“The State Police legislation will undoubtedly be a priority issue.”

He added that the Senate remains committed to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture through legislative interventions, in collaboration with the Executive and other stakeholders.

> “The Senate is desirous of partnering with other arms of government in curbing the undesirable activities of bandits, terrorists and other peace-threatening marauders,” he said.

The emergency plenary is scheduled for Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., following a formal notice issued on June 15 by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, at the instance of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The proposed State Police Bill remains one of the major constitutional reform proposals before the National Assembly.

Supporters of the bill argue that decentralising policing powers will improve intelligence gathering, enhance community-based security operations, and enable state governments respond faster to local threats.

However, critics have raised concerns that state-controlled police structures could be vulnerable to political abuse.

Nigeria currently operates a centralised policing system under the Federal Government through the Nigeria Police Force.