The Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, SAN, has described the passage of the State Police Bill by the Ondo State House of Assembly as a significant milestone towards establishing a more responsive and effective policing system in Nigeria.
In a statement, Dr. Ajulo said the development marked an important step in a process shaped by years of advocacy, national debate and growing recognition of the need to reform Nigeria’s security architecture.
He noted that rising cases of kidnapping, attacks on farming communities and other criminal activities had disrupted livelihoods and weakened public confidence, underscoring the need for a policing system capable of responding to the peculiar security challenges of individual states and communities.
The Attorney-General commended President Bola Tinubu for his leadership in advancing the national conversation on State Police, while applauding Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and the Speaker and members of the Ondo State House of Assembly for supporting the proposed reform.
Dr. Ajulo said he had consistently advocated the establishment of State Police, stressing that Nigeria’s size and diversity required a security framework that reflected the realities of its constituent states.
He added that concerns about possible abuse should not prevent the reform but should encourage the development of stronger safeguards to ensure accountability and prevent political interference.
According to him, State Police must be professionally managed, adequately funded and subjected to effective oversight, while upholding fundamental rights and the rule of law.
On the constitutional process, Dr. Ajulo explained that the Assembly’s passage of the bill was an endorsement of a proposed constitutional amendment and not the conclusion of the process.
He noted that under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the proposal requires approval by at least two-thirds of all State Houses of Assembly, representing 24 of the 36 states, before completing the remaining constitutional procedures.
He added that appropriate national and state legislation would subsequently be required to establish operational frameworks covering recruitment, funding, command structures, professional standards and independent oversight.
Dr. Ajulo expressed optimism that sustained political commitment and sound legislation would translate the initiative into lasting security reforms, noting that the success of State Police would ultimately depend on the quality of the institutions established, public trust and the justice they deliver.
