Speaker of the House of Assembly, Tajudeen Abbas, gave the assurance on Wednesday at the National Security Roundtable during the 2026 National Assembly Open Week in Abuja, saying the proposed reform is aimed at strengthening community policing while maintaining effective national oversight.

Abbas said the House would subject the state police bill to thorough legislative scrutiny to ensure it enhances security without undermining democracy, accountability or the rule of law.

He described the proposal as one of the most significant constitutional reforms currently before the National Assembly, noting that it marks the first time a sitting president has formally submitted an executive bill seeking the establishment of state police.

“State Police will not be private armies for the various state governors,” Abbas said.

“For the first time in our history, a sitting president has made state police a central part of national reform. He has done so not with words alone, but with a bill that now sits before the House of Representatives,” he added.

The Speaker reaffirmed the House’s commitment to ensuring the legislation contains adequate safeguards to prevent abuse while addressing the country’s growing security challenges.