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

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