The National Assembly is expected to transmit the proposed State Police Bill to President Bola Tinubu after completing the verification of approvals by 28 state Houses of Assembly.
The development marks a significant step in the legislative process towards establishing state police in Nigeria, a proposal that has featured prominently in national discussions about security and policing reforms.
The proposed amendment is contained in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026. It seeks to establish State Police Services alongside the existing federal police structure.
According to the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the bill was forwarded to all 36 state assemblies on September 16, 2026, for consideration and approval. Although the assemblies were initially given 30 days to communicate their decisions, his office continued receiving submissions after the October 15 deadline.
Under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, a constitutional amendment requires approval from at least two-thirds of the 36 state assemblies, equivalent to 24 states. The 28 approvals therefore exceed the required threshold by four states.
The National Assembly has confirmed that the reports and accompanying Votes and Proceedings from the 28 assemblies have been verified.
The next step is the formal transmission of the approved amendment to President Tinubu for assent. State police have not yet become law, as the presidential assent and completion of the constitutional amendment process are still pending.
The proposal represents a major development in Nigeria’s policing reform debate, with supporters advocating decentralised security operations while concerns remain about possible political interference, funding and accountability.
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