National Assembly Fires State Police Bill to Tinubu as 29 States Defy Status Quo

ABUJA — Nigeria’s long-running debate over the establishment of state police has reached a significant legislative milestone following the endorsement of the proposed constitutional amendment by at least 29 State Houses of Assembly.

The National Assembly on Wednesday announced plans to transmit the State Police Bill to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following the endorsement of the proposal by more than the constitutionally required two-thirds of the 36 state legislatures.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, disclosed the development during plenary, describing the support secured from the state assemblies as a major step towards decentralising Nigeria’s policing system.

Kalu said the Clerk to the National Assembly would transmit the bill to the President on Wednesday for the next stage of the process.

“The State Police Bill has received the backing of 29 State Assemblies. Later today, the Clerk to the National Assembly will transmit it to the President for assent,” he said.

Under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, a constitutional amendment requires approval from at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, representing 24 states.

The 29 approvals announced by the Deputy Speaker therefore exceed the required threshold, moving the proposed reform closer to the establishment of state police services across the federation.

The development follows weeks of legislative consultations after the proposed constitutional amendment was forwarded to all 36 state assemblies on September 16, 2026, for consideration and approval.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, had earlier confirmed that 28 state assemblies had approved the proposal as of Tuesday, November 3, following the verification of reports and accompanying votes and proceedings submitted by the state legislatures.

The proposed amendment seeks to create a constitutional framework for State Police Services, allowing individual states to establish their own police structures alongside the existing Nigeria Police Force.

The proposal has gained renewed attention amid persistent security challenges, including kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and communal violence in different parts of the country.

Supporters of state policing have consistently argued that decentralising the police structure would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community-based security and enable faster responses to criminal activities.

They also maintain that state-controlled police formations would be better positioned to understand local languages, customs, geographical terrain and security threats.

However, the proposal has continued to attract concerns over the possible misuse of state police by politically powerful governors, inadequate funding, human rights violations and the potential use of security agencies against political opponents.

The debate has therefore centred not only on the establishment of state police but also on the need for effective oversight, accountability and safeguards against political interference.

Although the National Assembly has indicated that the amendment will be forwarded to President Tinubu, the precise constitutional procedure surrounding presidential assent and the final authentication of a constitutional alteration remains an important issue to watch.

The development does not mean that state police operations have commenced. Further formal steps, including the completion and publication of the constitutional alteration and the development of the necessary implementation framework, will be required before the proposed system becomes operational.

Nigeria currently operates a centrally controlled police structure under the Federal Government, with the Nigeria Police Force responsible for policing across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The proposed reform is expected to introduce a dual policing arrangement, with federal and state police services operating under their respective legal frameworks.

For now, attention has shifted to the next steps by the National Assembly and the Presidency as the country moves closer to a potentially significant restructuring of its security architecture.

National Assembly Fires State Police Bill to Tinubu as 29 States Defy Status Quo

Tinubu Reveals How He Worked As Taxi Driver In US Before Becoming Nigeria’s President

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has opened up about an aspect of his life in the United States, revealing that he once worked as a taxi driver while struggling to make ends meet before rising to political prominence in Nigeria.

The revelation offers a glimpse into the Nigerian leader’s experiences abroad and how his personal journey has influenced his views on education, financial independence and opportunities for young people.

Tinubu reportedly made the disclosure while explaining the thinking behind his administration’s student loan programme, drawing from his experiences during his years in the United States.

Long before becoming Lagos State governor and eventually President of Nigeria, Tinubu spent part of his life in the United States, where he reportedly engaged in different activities to sustain himself.

Among the experiences he recalled was working as a taxi driver, including operating what was described as a gypsy cab.

The experience, according to the account, exposed him to the realities of struggling to earn a living and the determination required to overcome financial difficulties in a foreign country.

His disclosure has brought renewed attention to his personal history, particularly the challenges he encountered before establishing himself in Nigeria’s political landscape.

Tinubu’s reference to his experience abroad also provided an insight into his administration’s justification for introducing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides financial assistance to eligible students in tertiary institutions.

The programme is designed to help students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds access higher education without being prevented by their families’ economic circumstances.

By linking his personal experiences to the initiative, the President appeared to emphasise the importance of creating opportunities for young Nigerians to pursue their educational ambitions despite financial limitations.

The student loan scheme has remained one of the major education initiatives of his administration, although its implementation and repayment arrangements have generated public discussions.

The disclosure has generated interest because it offers another perspective on the personal journey of a president whose political career has largely been associated with elite political circles and high-level governance.

For some observers, his account highlights the struggles that can precede success, while also drawing attention to the importance of education, hard work and access to opportunities.

Tinubu’s journey from his reported experience as a taxi driver in the United States to Nigeria’s highest political office represents a remarkable chapter in his personal and political history.

However, his remarks have also renewed conversations about how personal experiences of hardship should translate into policies that address the economic challenges facing ordinary Nigerians, particularly students and young people.

Tinubu Reveals How He Worked As Taxi Driver In US Before Becoming Nigeria’s President