RismadarVoice Reporters
October 16, 2026
Only five of Nigeria’s 36 State Houses of Assembly have approved the proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police, leaving the bill 19 states short of the required threshold as the National Assembly’s October 16 deadline expires.
The five states that have endorsed the proposal are Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Zamfara, while the remaining 31 have yet to communicate their final positions.
The proposed amendment seeks to introduce a dual policing system comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services, allowing states to establish their own policing institutions within a constitutional framework.
Under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, the amendment requires approval from at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, representing 24 states, before the remaining constitutional procedures can be completed.
The National Assembly transmitted the bill to state legislatures on September 16, 2026, after its passage by the Senate on June 24 and the House of Representatives on July 23.
Despite the limited approvals, the Senate has expressed confidence that the constitutional amendment process will be completed before the expiration of the 10th National Assembly in 2027.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, said lawmakers were awaiting responses from the states and remained optimistic about securing the required support.
He explained that the National Assembly needed resolutions from at least 24 state legislatures to advance the proposal.
Adaramodu also dismissed concerns that the process might extend into the tenure of the next National Assembly, maintaining that the current legislature intended to complete its work before leaving office.
STATES CONTINUE DELIBERATIONS
Several state legislatures have indicated that they are reviewing the proposed amendment or preparing to consult stakeholders before reaching a decision.
In Ogun State, the House of Assembly is considering a public hearing to allow residents and relevant organisations to examine the proposal.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendment, Olakunle Oluomo, said consultations would help lawmakers understand public concerns before voting.
Similarly, the Delta State House of Assembly confirmed receiving the bill but said its final position would follow consultations and the necessary legislative procedures.
In Abia State, Speaker Emmanuel Emeruwa acknowledged that the proposal was before lawmakers but said the Assembly had not reached a decision.
The Anambra State House of Assembly also confirmed receipt of the amendment, although it had not been formally scheduled for consideration.
In Kaduna, lawmakers are examining the provisions and considering a public hearing to assess their implications for the state’s security arrangements.
The Imo State House of Assembly also indicated that deliberations would proceed following the resumption of legislative activities.
Meanwhile, the Zamfara State House of Assembly confirmed that it had approved the amendment and forwarded its decision to the National Assembly.
Osun and Oyo lawmakers have similarly endorsed the proposal, citing the potential benefits of strengthening responses to local security challenges.
PRESIDENCY SAYS NATIONAL POLICING BILL 90% READY
In a related development, the Presidency has disclosed that the proposed National Policing Bill, intended to provide operational arrangements for the state police system, is approximately 90 per cent complete.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, made the disclosure following a meeting of the Presidential Working Group on policing reform at the State House, Abuja.
Gbajabiamila said the draft was undergoing final review and could be transmitted to the National Assembly within two weeks, with October 29 identified as a possible date.
According to him, outstanding observations from state governors and other stakeholders are being considered before the document is finalised.
The proposed legislation is expected to address policing standards, institutional accountability, coordination between federal and state authorities, human rights protections and financial requirements for operating state police services.
Gbajabiamila described the proposed law as a major legislative initiative of the administration and expressed confidence that the necessary constitutional approvals would eventually be secured.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier inaugurated the Presidential Working Group on July 7, 2026, to develop a framework for implementing the proposed policing reforms.
The group was tasked with preparing legislation that would establish clear operational responsibilities and safeguards for the proposed federal and state policing institutions.
PROPOSED STATE POLICE STRUCTURE
Under the constitutional amendment, states would be empowered to establish police services through legislation passed by their respective Houses of Assembly.
The proposed framework provides for State Police Service Commissions responsible for appointments, promotions, discipline and other personnel matters.
Each state police service would be headed by a State Commander of Police, with appointments subject to the procedures and oversight requirements contained in the amendment.
The National Assembly would also have responsibility for prescribing minimum policing standards applicable to both federal and state services.
Supporters of the proposal maintain that decentralised policing could improve responses to kidnapping, banditry, communal violence and other security challenges.
However, concerns remain over the possibility of political interference, uneven funding and the misuse of state-controlled security institutions.
The proposed reforms are therefore expected to attract further scrutiny over accountability, institutional independence and safeguards against abuse.
For now, the constitutional amendment remains pending, with the National Assembly requiring approval from at least 19 additional state legislatures to reach the mandatory threshold of 24.
The expiry of the administrative deadline does not, by itself, establish that the constitutional amendment has failed. Its progress will depend on further state approvals and completion of the required legislative procedures.
