State Police:Plateau Assembly Considers Constitution Alteration Bill.

The Plateau State House of Assembly on Wednesday considered a Bill seeking to alter the 1999 Constitution to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and related matters.

The Constitutional alteration Bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for the Establishment of State Police Services; and for Related Matters, 2026,” was presented before the House and passed through first reading during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Naanlong Daniel, at the Assembly Complex in Jos.

The Bill was transmitted to the Plateau State House of Assembly by the National Assembly as part of the Constitutional amendment process. The National Assembly has clarified that the State Police Services Bill is the only Constitutional alteration proposal so far transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration.

The proposed amendment seeks to provide a Constitutional framework for the establishment of State Police Services, while retaining the Nigeria Police Force as the federal police service.

Under the Constitutional amendment process, the proposal requires consideration and approval by at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly, representing 24 of the 36 state legislatures, before subsequent stages of the process can proceed.

The State Police proposal was prioritised by the National Assembly following concerns and public demands relating to security and policing across the country, according to the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana.

Also considered by the Plateau Assembly was a Bill seeking the establishment of the Plateau State Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, which passed through second reading.

The Bill, sponsored by Hon. Joseph Bukar, member representing Shendam State Constituency, seeks to establish the Institute as a network of cancer screening and treatment centres across the three senatorial zones of Plateau State, with its headquarters in Jos.

Titled “A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Establishment of the Plateau State Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment to Operate as a Network of Breast, Cervical, Prostate and Other Cancer Related Screening and Treatment Centres and for Other Related Matters, 2025,” the proposed legislation seeks to strengthen cancer prevention, screening, research, treatment, public education and awareness in the state.

The Institute would also be responsible for collecting, analysing and publicising cancer-related data, while supporting initiatives aimed at reducing the burden of gynaecological and prostate cancers through surveillance, screening, research, treatment and public-health education.

The Bill proposes a governing board comprising representatives of the Ministries of Health, Education, Women Affairs, Information and Finance, alongside representatives of the Plateau State Medical Association, the State Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists and the Director-General of the Institute.

It also provides for the appointment of a Director-General by the Governor of Plateau State to serve as the chief executive of the Institute and oversee its day-to-day administration under the supervision of the governing board.

The proposed Institute would have directorates covering training; research and statistics; policy, strategic planning and sectoral coordination; community relations and social advocacy; and service delivery, treatment and surveillance.

Another Bill presented for first reading was an Executive Bill seeking to repeal and re-enact the College of Education, Gindiri Law, 1988, and establish the Plateau State College of Education, Gindiri, with provisions for its governance, administration, academic mandate, funding and other related matters.

The House also considered a Bill sponsored by Hon. Owen Dagot seeking to establish the Plateau State Tourism Corporation and provide for other related matters. The proposed legislation is expected to provide a statutory framework for the management and development of tourism-related activities in the state as it progresses through the legislative process.