The Kaduna State House of Assembly has approved a proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution seeking to establish state police services as part of efforts to address security challenges across Nigeria.

The approval was granted unanimously during Thursday’s plenary session presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Henry Magaji Dajuma, following consideration of the bill transmitted by the National Assembly for concurrence.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Henry Marah, disclosed the decision to journalists after the sitting, describing state policing as a potential means of strengthening security at the community level.

Marah, who represents Jaba State Constituency, said the proposed arrangement would improve the protection of lives and property, create employment opportunities for young people and enable security agencies to respond more effectively to crimes within communities.

He argued that the existing policing structure limited state governments’ ability to hold security authorities directly accountable when threats were not adequately addressed.

According to him, the proposed system would provide a constitutional and legal framework for community-based policing initiatives and improve responses to banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities.

Marah added that the state would develop appropriate legislation to guide the operations, administration and welfare of personnel recruited into the proposed police service once the constitutional amendment takes effect.

He assured residents that funding for the initiative would be prioritised, even if the government had to reduce expenditure on other projects, stressing that security was essential for economic and social activities.

The lawmaker also said improved security would help farmers return to their farmlands without fear of abduction, thereby supporting agricultural production and local livelihoods.

The proposal forms part of a nationwide constitutional amendment process initiated by the National Assembly to establish a dual policing structure comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.

Under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, a constitutional alteration requires approval from at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly before it can proceed to the next stage of the legislative process.

The establishment of state police has attracted debate, with supporters arguing that decentralised policing could improve local intelligence gathering and responsiveness, while concerns remain about political interference, accountability and safeguards against abuse.

Kaduna’s approval adds to the growing number of state legislatures considering the proposed reform as Nigeria continues efforts to strengthen its security framework.