By Our Reporter
The proposed establishment of state police in Nigeria has received a major boost, with 28 state Houses of Assembly approving the constitutional amendment bill, paving the way for its transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, confirming that the number of approving state legislatures had exceeded the constitutionally required threshold of 24 states.
Ogunlana said his office had completed the necessary administrative verification of the reports and voting records submitted by the state assemblies to establish the authenticity of their decisions.
He explained that the required administrative procedures were underway to facilitate the transmission of the bill to Tinubu in accordance with the Acts Authentication Act, Cap A2 (LFN) 2004.
According to him, the bill was transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026, for consideration and approval, with a request that their decisions be communicated to the National Assembly within 30 days.
Although the deadline expired on October 15, the Clerk said his office continued to receive reports from state legislatures pending the transmission of the bill for presidential assent.
He stated that following the receipt and verification of the reports, 28 state assemblies had approved the proposed constitutional amendment.
The development satisfies the constitutional requirement under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates that an alteration to the Constitution must be approved by not less than two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly, representing at least 24 states.
Ogunlana also clarified that Section 9 of the Constitution does not expressly require a third reading for a constitutional alteration bill, unlike the procedure applicable to ordinary legislative bills.
The proposed amendment seeks to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and related matters as part of efforts to decentralise Nigeria’s policing system and strengthen the country’s security architecture.
The move comes amid growing concerns over insecurity, including kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and communal violence across different parts of the country.
Proponents of state police have consistently argued that decentralised policing would improve intelligence gathering, enhance local security responses and enable state governments to address threats peculiar to their respective jurisdictions.
However, the proposal has also generated concerns over the potential abuse of state-controlled police structures by political office holders, inadequate funding, operational independence and the protection of citizens’ fundamental human rights.
Nigeria currently operates a centralised policing system under the Nigeria Police Force, with state governments lacking independent police commands.
Ogunlana commended the state legislatures for their cooperation in considering the proposed amendment, describing the development as an important step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security framework and deepening its federal system.
The transmission of the bill to the President represents the next major stage in the constitutional amendment process, although presidential assent alone does not automatically bring the proposed state police system into operation.
Further legislative and administrative steps will be required to establish the necessary structures and operational framework for the new policing arrangement.