The House of Representatives has passed the State Police Bill following a decisive vote during plenary on the legislative proposal.

The decision followed a plenary vote in which 289 lawmakers supported the bill, one voted against it, while Speaker Tajudeen Abbas abstained.

The session was convened to deliberate on the proposed reform amid rising cases of killings, kidnappings, and banditry across the country.

The plenary, however, was not without tension as lawmakers debated the process.

Kaduna lawmaker Bashir Zubairu of the African Democratic Congress raised a point of order, expressing concern that the report on the bill from the House Committee on Constitution Review was only distributed on the day of the sitting.

Before the final vote, Speaker Abbas noted that the electronic voting system was not functional, leading to a manual count based on members’ attendance.

A total of 289 lawmakers reportedly supported the bill, while four members opposed it, according to proceedings at the chamber.

The development came as the House earlier resolved that voting on the bill would be conducted manually during consideration of key legislative items.

In total, 290 members were present at plenary for the day’s legislative business.

The bill, which seeks to establish a state-level policing structure, remains one of the most closely watched security reform proposals before the National Assembly.