NASS transmits state police bill to Tinubu after 28 states approve
The National Assembly has forwarded the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill establishing state police to President Bola Tinubu for assent after 28 State Houses of Assembly approved it—exceeding the two-thirds constitutional threshold of 24 states. Clerk to the National Assembly Kamoru Ogunlana confirmed the milestone in a statement Tuesday, noting his office received and verified reports from 28 states since the bill was transmitted for consideration on September 16, 2026, with a 30-day deadline that elapsed October 15.
The bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide for State Police Services, a major shift in Nigeria's security architecture. NASS completed administrative verification of votes and proceedings from each state legislature to ensure authenticity. Unlike ordinary bills, constitutional alteration bills do not require a third reading under Section 9.
With presidential assent, states can establish their own police services, potentially decentralizing law enforcement from the federal Nigeria Police Force. Implementation details—funding, command structure, coordination with federal police—will follow enabling legislation. The development represents the furthest progress on state police since the 1999 Constitution.
Will state-controlled policing improve local security response, or will it create jurisdictional conflicts and funding burdens for cash-strapped states?