Nothing is Being Concealed” — NASS Leaders say Executive Bill will Undergo Full Public Scrutiny

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, have defended the National Assembly’s decision to prioritise President Bola Tinubu’s Executive State Police Bill, insisting the proposal is not being rushed and will be subjected to public scrutiny before passage.

The two presiding officers spoke on Monday during the National Assembly’s Open Week in Abuja, amid debate over the House’s withdrawal of its own State Police Bill to consider the Executive version transmitted by Tinubu.

—Work Did Not Start Today—

Akpabio said the state police proposal did not originate with the President’s bill, noting that the National Assembly had spent more than two and a half years consulting Nigerians and processing constitutional amendments on the issue.

His remarks came in response to criticisms that lawmakers were moving too quickly to consider the Executive proposal after years of work on the National Assembly’s version.

“We have been on this conversation for a long time. This is not a new matter,” Akpabio said.

—“More Comprehensive” Executive Bill—

Abbas described Tinubu’s executive proposal as more comprehensive than the version earlier passed by the House of Representatives.

The Speaker also addressed concerns from lawmakers and citizens who said they were yet to see the draft bill and feared the process was being concluded “beyond public view.”

“To the thoughtful citizens and to members who have observed that they are yet to see the draft bills and who fear that this matter is being settled beyond public view, I offer this reassurance: nothing here is concealed,” Abbas said.

He further assured that the proposed legislation would include safeguards to prevent the abuse of state police by political office holders — one of the major objections raised against decentralising policing in Nigeria.

State Speakers Back Constitutional Reform
Meanwhile, the Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly has thrown its weight behind Tinubu and the National Assembly on the ongoing constitutional amendment process for state policing and devolution of powers.

Chairman of the Conference and Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, described the reforms as “a historic opportunity to strengthen the federation, improve governance and address the nation’s security challenges.”

Speaking at the opening of the 2026 National Assembly Open Week, Guwor said insecurity remains Nigeria’s greatest challenge and that lasting solutions require stronger collaboration among governments, legislatures, security agencies, traditional institutions, civil society and local communities.

“A secure Nigeria requires not only strong institutions but also strong partnerships founded on trust, collaboration and active citizens’ participation,” he said.

According to Guwor, the constitutional reforms, if adopted and faithfully implemented, have the potential to:

– Strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture
– Improve intergovernmental coordination
– Bring governance closer to the people
– Reinforce the principles of true federalism

He added that the Conference “stands ready to continue working closely with the National Assembly, the Presidency and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the reforms ultimately serve the best interests of Nigerians.”

—What Happens Next—

The Executive State Police Bill is expected to be laid before both chambers in the coming weeks. Legislative aides said public hearings will be conducted to allow input from governors, security experts, civil society and traditional rulers before any vote.

The push for state police has gained momentum in recent years amid rising kidnapping, banditry and communal clashes, with proponents arguing that local policing will improve response times while critics warn of possible political misuse. [Adapted from The Guardian]