Nigeria has moved a major step closer to having state police as the National Assembly on Wednesday transmitted the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish State Police Services to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
The development followed the endorsement of the proposed amendment by 29 of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, surpassing the constitutionally required two-thirds majority of 24 states.
The announcement was made during Wednesday’s Senate plenary by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who read an official communication from the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana.
According to the notice, the required number of approvals had been received as of the close of business on Tuesday, November 3, prompting the leadership of the National Assembly to direct the Clerk to transmit the bill to Tinubu on Wednesday, November 4.
The breakthrough marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s long-running debate over the decentralisation of its policing system, particularly amid escalating insecurity, kidnappings, banditry and insurgency across different parts of the country.
The proposed amendment, known as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, seeks to provide constitutional backing for states to establish and operate their own police services.
The bill had earlier been passed by the Senate on June 24 and the House of Representatives on July 23 before being forwarded to the 36 state legislatures on September 16 for consideration and approval.
Under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, any proposed alteration to the Constitution must secure the support of at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly, representing 24 out of 36 states.
With 29 states now backing the proposal, the constitutional requirement has been comfortably surpassed.
The Clerk to the National Assembly had earlier confirmed that his office verified the reports and accompanying Votes and Proceedings submitted by the approving state legislatures to establish their authenticity.
If Tinubu assents to the amendment, it will provide the constitutional foundation for the establishment of state police, potentially ending the country’s long-standing reliance on a centralised police structure.
The proposed reform is expected to allow state governments to develop policing structures that can respond more directly to security threats in their communities, improve intelligence gathering and strengthen grassroots crime prevention.
However, presidential assent alone will not mean that state police officers will immediately begin operating across the country. The necessary legal and administrative frameworks, including legislation defining their powers, funding, recruitment, command structures and operational safeguards, will also be required.
One of the major concerns surrounding the reform is the possibility of governors using state police to intimidate political opponents or settle personal scores.
Other concerns include the protection of human rights, the independence of police operations, adequate funding and mechanisms to prevent abuses of power.
Nevertheless, supporters of the reform argue that decentralising policing will make it easier for security agencies to understand local threats and respond more quickly to emergencies.
The development represents one of the most significant proposed changes to Nigeria’s security architecture since the establishment of the Nigeria Police Force as a centralised national institution.
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