By Aaron Ossai
The contentious debate over the establishment of state police in Nigeria will take centre stage in Abuja on Tuesday, October 6, as the House of Representatives Press Corps hosts its second annual Distinguished Parliamentarian Lecture and Awards.
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago; founder of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo; former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu; and Secretary of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Nnadubem Moghalu, are among the prominent figures expected to speak at the event.
The lecture comes as the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish State Police Services is before the 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration.
The Press Corps selected “The Imperative for State Police: Securing Communities, Strengthening Federalism” as the theme for the event.
Moghalu, who is also Senior Special Assistant to the President on Planning and Research, will deliver the keynote lecture titled, “State Police, Community Security and the Future of Federalism in Nigeria.”
His presentation is expected to examine the proposed policing structure, its implications for community security and federalism, as well as the relationship between state and federal security agencies.
Issues such as funding, recruitment, training, operational independence, accountability, oversight and safeguards against abuse are also expected to feature in the discussions.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, will serve as Chief Host and is expected to outline the position of the 10th House on state police and other security-related legislative proposals.
The Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, is also expected to attend.
Bago and Tompolo are expected to contribute practical perspectives on state governance, community security and the protection of critical national assets.
Other expected participants include the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana; Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Akin Rotimi Jr.; Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Grace Ike; and representatives of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, Nigerian Communications Commission and development partners.
The programme will also feature the presentation of the House of Representatives Press Corps Distinguished Parliamentarian Awards.
Bago will receive an award for his contributions to rural development and public leadership, while Tompolo will be honoured for his role in the protection of Nigeria’s critical national assets.
Chairman of the House of Representatives Press Corps, Gboyega Onadiran, said the annual lecture was established to promote informed debate on issues of national importance.
He said the choice of state police as this year’s theme reflected the importance of the proposed reform to Nigeria’s security architecture and the wider debate on policing and federalism.
According to him, the initiative is also intended to deepen engagement among lawmakers, security stakeholders, the media and the wider public.
The event is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. at the National Assembly Library Auditorium, Abuja, on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
