The proposed establishment of state police in Nigeria has suffered a setback, with only five of the 36 State Houses of Assembly approving the constitutional amendment as the October 16 deadline approaches.
The State Houses of Assembly in Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Zamfara have approved the proposed amendment, which seeks to decentralise Nigeria’s policing system and provide a constitutional framework for the establishment and operation of state police services.
However, several other state legislatures are still studying the bill, consulting stakeholders or preparing for deliberations, leaving the proposal significantly short of the constitutional requirement for approval by at least 24 state assemblies.
The bill was transmitted to the state legislatures on September 16, 2026, following its passage by the Senate on June 24 and the House of Representatives on July 23. The 30-day deadline given to the assemblies to communicate their positions expires on October 16.
Despite the slow pace of approvals, the Senate has assured Nigerians that the constitutional amendment will be completed before the end of the tenure of the 10th National Assembly in 2027.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has disclosed that the National Policing Bill, which is expected to provide the legal framework for implementing the proposed state police system, is 90 per cent ready and will be transmitted to the National Assembly by October 29.
Five states approve state police amendment
Zamfara State House of Assembly has confirmed passing the proposed constitutional amendment, joining Edo, Osun, Oyo and Rivers states in supporting the establishment of state police.
The spokesperson for the Zamfara Assembly, Nasiru Biya-Buki, told The PUNCH that the legislature had completed the process and forwarded the bill to the National Assembly.
“The Zamfara State House of Assembly has since passed the bill regarding the creation of the state police,” he said.
“The bill has been sent to the National Assembly, Abuja, as requested. So, we are waiting for the next line of action to take.”
In Osun State, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, read a letter from the National Assembly requesting lawmakers to consider and approve the proposed constitutional alteration.
During deliberations, several lawmakers supported the amendment, arguing that decentralised policing would strengthen security and enable authorities to respond more effectively to threats within their jurisdictions.
Those who backed the proposal included Lawrence Adeoti, representing Ife South State Constituency; Taofeek Olayiwola, representing Ede South; Adewumi Adeyemi, representing Obokun; and Jeremiah Awoyeye, representing Ife Central.
The motion supporting the amendment was moved by the Majority Leader, Babajide Kofoworola, representing Ede North, and seconded by Tajudeen Adeyemi, representing Ifelodun.
Oyo Assembly passes constitutional amendment
In Oyo State, the House of Assembly passed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, on September 29 after considering its provisions clause by clause.
The session was presided over by the Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin, following the receipt of a letter from the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, transmitting the bill for consideration and approval.
Ogundoyin said the proposed amendment would have significant legislative implications for the state, particularly the need to enact a comprehensive law governing the operation of its police service if the constitutional alteration is completed.
Under the proposed framework, a Federal Police Service would operate alongside state police services, with individual states empowered to establish their own police formations through legislation.
State police officers would be responsible for enforcing state laws, maintaining public safety and order, preventing and detecting offences, protecting lives and property, and performing other policing functions prescribed by state law.
The proposal also provides for State Police Service Commissions to oversee appointments, promotions, transfers, discipline, complaints and accountability.
A State Commander of Police would head each state service. The governor would appoint the commander on the recommendation of the National Police Council, subject to confirmation by the State House of Assembly.
The National Assembly would also be empowered to prescribe minimum policing standards for federal and state police services, while individual states could establish higher or additional standards.
Several states yet to decide
While five state assemblies have approved the proposal, several others are still considering its provisions, with some planning public hearings and consultations before taking a final position.
In Ogun State, the former Speaker of the House of Assembly and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendment, Olakunle Oluomo, said he had proposed a public hearing to familiarise residents with the bill and obtain their contributions.
He said he expected to meet with the current Speaker, Oludaisi Elemide, to agree on a date for the exercise.
Oluomo explained that the public hearing would help residents understand the proposed changes before lawmakers made a decision.
Elemide also confirmed that the assembly was still working on the proposal.
In Delta State, the House of Assembly has received the bill but has yet to announce whether it will support or reject the amendment.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Nkem Nwaeke, confirmed that the bill had been received and that the assembly was following due legislative process.
He said the Speaker, Emomotimi Guwor, who also chairs the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, would announce the House’s position after consultations with relevant stakeholders.
Nwaeke said the interests of Delta residents remained the priority, adding that the assembly needed to conduct due diligence before reaching a decision.
In Abia State, Speaker Emmanuel Emeruwa confirmed that the proposed constitutional amendment had been brought before lawmakers but said the assembly had yet to adopt a position.
“We have this on the floor,” Emeruwa said.
Asked whether a public hearing had been scheduled and when the assembly would vote, he replied, “I don’t have a position yet on the matter.”
In Anambra State, the Clerk of the House of Assembly, Tony Ughenu, said lawmakers had been informed that the bill was before the legislature, but it had not been formally listed for consideration.
He explained that state assemblies were expected to vote in favour of or against the proposed constitutional amendment rather than alter its provisions.
Ughenu attributed part of the delay to ongoing discussions at the Speakers’ Forum and said the assembly’s position would become clearer in the coming weeks.
In Imo State, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Judiciary, Dominic Ezerioha, said the bill arrived as lawmakers were proceeding on recess.
He expressed hope that the proposal would be listed for consideration following the assembly’s resumption.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State House of Assembly has begun examining the bill and plans to organise a public hearing before taking a final decision.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Henry Marah, said lawmakers were reviewing the provisions to determine how the proposed framework would apply to Kaduna’s security situation.
He said the assembly would engage members of the public and other stakeholders before proceeding with further consideration.
Reps yet to comment on deadline
The leadership of the House of Representatives had yet to issue a formal statement on the status of the state police bill as the deadline for state legislatures to communicate their decisions approached.
The House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, declined to provide a substantive comment when contacted by The PUNCH.
His response left unanswered questions about whether the National Assembly would extend the deadline, issue another directive or take additional steps to advance the constitutional amendment process.
Under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, a constitutional alteration must be approved by resolutions of at least two-thirds of all State Houses of Assembly before it can be presented for presidential assent.
For Nigeria’s 36 states, this means the proposed state police amendment requires approval from at least 24 state assemblies.
With only five states having approved the proposal as of October 15, the amendment remains well below the constitutional threshold.
Senate promises completion before 2027
Despite the limited number of approvals, the Senate has assured Nigerians that the proposed establishment of state police will be completed before the 10th National Assembly concludes its tenure.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, gave the assurance in an interview with The PUNCH, dismissing concerns that the process could extend into the tenure of the 11th National Assembly.
Adaramodu said the Senate was waiting for the state assemblies to communicate their decisions, noting that the Constitution requires approval from at least 24 states.
“We are still waiting after transmitting to the states. We only need 24 State Houses of Assembly to consent. That’s two-thirds of 36. So, once we get that, we will go ahead and promulgate,” he said.
The senator insisted that the current National Assembly would complete the process before the next legislature takes over, expected before the end of July 2027.
He added that the National Assembly expected responses from the state legislatures soon but did not announce a new deadline for their decisions.
Presidency says National Policing Bill is 90% ready
Separately, the Presidency has announced that the National Policing Bill is 90 per cent ready and is expected to be transmitted to the National Assembly by October 29.
The Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this while speaking to State House correspondents after a steering committee meeting at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Gbajabiamila said the committee would likely hold one more meeting to address outstanding issues and incorporate observations from state governors before transmitting the proposed legislation.
“The National Policing Bill is more or less ready for transmission to the National Assembly. We will probably have one more meeting after this to cross the t’s and dot the i’s and make sure every area is covered. So, we are 90 per cent ready,” he said.
“The governors have one or two observations, and we should be ready in about a week or so.”
He described the proposal as “the most consequential Bill of the administration so far”, adding that it had undergone extensive deliberations since the steering committee began work on August 3.
Asked whether the limited number of state approvals could delay the constitutional amendment, Gbajabiamila said there was a national consensus on the need to reform Nigeria’s policing structure.
The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani; and the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu.
The Attorney-General of the Federation was represented by the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Beatrice Jedy-Agba.
Other participants included the Chairman of the Policy Advisory Committee, Justice Abdullahi Liman (retd.); the Head of the Nigeria Police Reform Secretariat, Professor Olu Ogunsakin; the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), Lanre Smart; committee secretary Nnadubem Moghalu; and a representative of the Nigerian Bar Association president.
President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the seven-member Presidential Working Group on July 7, with Gbajabiamila presiding on his behalf.
The group was mandated to produce a technically robust and implementation-ready draft National Policing Bill.
Tinubu said the legislation would address minimum policing standards, state readiness certification, coordination between federal and state authorities, accountability, human rights safeguards and fiscal conditions.
“The Constitution Amendment Bill establishes the framework for dual policing, but it does not operationalise it,” the President said in a speech read on his behalf.
Tinubu also declared on Wednesday, during the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, that state police “will be a reality”.
State police debate amid insecurity
The proposed constitutional amendment comes amid persistent security challenges across Nigeria, including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, communal violence and other criminal activities.
Supporters of state police argue that decentralising the country’s policing structure would allow state authorities to respond more quickly to local threats and improve law enforcement at community level.
However, concerns remain over the potential political misuse of state-controlled police services, particularly in states where governors could seek to influence security operations for partisan purposes.
The proposed framework seeks to establish federal and state police services while providing arrangements for oversight, discipline, accountability and minimum operational standards.
The National Assembly transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to all 36 state assemblies on September 16, following its passage by both chambers.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, subsequently clarified that the State Police Bill was the only constitutional amendment proposal transmitted to the state legislatures at that stage.
Ultimately, the proposal’s prospects depend on securing approval from at least 24 state assemblies, as required by the Constitution.
Until the required approvals and other constitutional procedures are completed, the establishment of state police will remain a proposal rather than an operative constitutional arrangement.