Nigeria National Assembly dey prepare to send President Bola Tinubu one bill to change the Constitution so states fit set up their own police services. On 3 November, Kamoru Ogunlana, the Clerk to the National Assembly, confirm say im office don check approvals from 28 state Houses of Assembly. Im announcement na about the votes on the bill. E no announce say president don sign am.
The number wey matter for this stage na 24. Ogunlana say section 9 of the Constitution require approval from at least two-thirds of the 36 state assemblies. The 28 approvals wey dem verify pass that number by four. Na the number of assemblies wey approve the change dem dey count, no be states wey don already get police service of their own.
To get that number, dem do more than collect replies. The clerk office check the reports wey the assemblies send together with their records of votes and wetin happen for their sittings. Dem wan confirm say each report na original and say wetin dey inside match the decision wey lawmakers for that assembly take.
National Assembly send the proposal give all 36 state assemblies on 16 September and ask dem to send their decisions within 30 days. That period end on 15 October. Ogunlana say im office still fit receive reports until dem send the bill give the president.
The proposal wan change the 1999 Constitution. Nigeria federal police already get commands for the states. A command of the federal force, like the one for Ebonyi, dey different from the police service wey state fit set up if the amendment become law.
Wetin e mean for you. If you see 28 and you dey wonder whether another force don begin police your area, the clerk statement explain the stage wey dem reach. The lawmakers don verify the state votes and dem dey prepare papers for the president. The statement no give date when any new service go start work for any community.