Nkem Okereh 

The Houses of Assembly in Osun, Edo, Oyo and Rivers have endorsed the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police across Nigeria.

The resolution followed transmission by the National Assembly of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration.

The bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to create a legal and institutional framework for the establishment and operation of state police.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, formally transmitted the bill to state legislatures on September 16, 2026.

The process is pursuant to Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, which prescribes the procedure for altering the Constitution. 

Under the provision, an amendment passed by the National Assembly requires approval, by resolution, of not less than two-thirds of all state Houses of Assembly before proceeding to the President for assent.

With 36 state legislatures, the required threshold is 24 Houses. 

The leadership has adopted a 30-day administrative timeframe to encourage Houses to consider the proposal and communicate positions within an orderly period.

First to kick-start the process was Osun State, followed by Edo, Rivers and Oyo.

During plenary on September 22, 2026, the Majority Leader of Osun House, Babajide Kofoworola, moved a motion for approval, seconded by Mr Tajudeen Adeyemi, representing Ifelodun Constituency. They said the measure would strengthen security arrangements in the state.

Upon adoption, Speaker Rt. Hon. Egbedu directed that approved amendments and resolutions of Osun House be forwarded to the National Assembly for further consideration.

The Assembly also dissolved into committee of the whole to consider the Osun State Park Management System Bill 2026, and agreed to incorporate approved changes after reviewing corrections.

In Edo, the House unanimously approved the amendment bill.

Leading the debate, Majority Leader, Hon. Osezua Sunday Ojezelle, highlighted its significance and urged lawmakers to support passage.

Member representing Akoko-Edo II, Donald Okogbe, said the proposed state police could create employment. 

Charity Aiguobaehian, representing Ovia North-East I, said the initiative could strengthen security at the community level.

Richard Edosa, representing Oredo I, advocated the establishment of an Edo State Police Commission as part of the framework. 

Kingsley Ugabi, representing Etsako East, and Maria Edeko, representing Esan North-East II, also supported the bill, saying it could improve peace and security.

Ojezelle moved a motion for passage, seconded by Minority Leader Natasha Osawaru. The motion was carried.

Speaker Yekini Idaiye described the bill as important and directed the Clerk to prepare and transmit clean copies of the concurrence resolution to the National Assembly.

Rivers lawmakers endorsed proposal on Monday, September 27.

Presenting the bill to the House, Speaker Martins Amaewhule said it seeks to create a constitutional pathway for the establishment of State Police Services, subject to the Constitution and to an Act of the National Assembly prescribing national minimum policing standards.

According to him, the bill establishes constitutional guardrails covering civilian control, human rights, national minimum standards, independent police service commissions, intergovernmental cooperation, criminal information systems, firearms control, and exceptional federal intervention in cases of breakdown, serious incapacity, national security threat, or “egregious abuse. 

All 25 members voted in support by show of hands.

“Anything that needs to be done towards ensuring that our people are properly protected, so that people can move freely, stay in their homes, go about their normal businesses without fear or hindrance by anybody or group of persons, will continue to be our top priority,” the Speaker said.

Oyo State House of Assembly acted on Tuesday, September 29, at plenary presided over by Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin, after clause-by-clause consideration.

According to Ogundoyin, passage would have significant legislative implications for the Oyo Assembly, particularly the need to develop a comprehensive State Police Law to translate the constitutional framework into an effective operational institution.

He disclosed that the proposed amendment would restructure Nigeria’s policing architecture by providing for a Federal Police Service alongside State Police Services.

He stated that the bill would empower each state to establish its own Police Service through legislation by the State House of Assembly, while defining the respective responsibilities of federal and state police authorities.

Ogundoyin noted that State Police would be responsible for enforcement of state laws, public safety and order, prevention and detection of offences, protection of life and property and other local policing functions prescribed by state law.

He said the proposed framework would also establish State Police Service Commissions with responsibilities covering appointment, promotion, transfer, discipline, oversight, complaints and accountability.

He said the bill provides for a State Commander of Police to head each State Police Service, to be appointed by the Governor on recommendation of the National Police Council and subject to confirmation by the State House of Assembly.

He also highlighted provisions empowering the National Assembly to prescribe minimum policing standards for both federal and state services.

The push for state police has intensified amid persistent security challenges and concerns over the capacity of the centrally controlled Nigeria Police Force to respond effectively to threats across vast territory.

Supporters argue state-controlled police could bring policing closer to communities, improve local intelligence and enable quicker responses to threats peculiar to individual states.

The proposal, however, involves significant constitutional and institutional questions, including structure of command, operational safeguards, funding, accountability and protection of personnel from political interference. The current framework provides for the Nigeria Police Force as a federal institution, with policing largely controlled from the centre.

The proposed amendment seeks to create a constitutional basis for states to establish and operate their own police formations alongside existing federal structures.

It has also received backing from President Bola Tinubu, with the administration advancing broader reforms aimed at restructuring policing and improving internal security.

A Presidential Working Group on National Policing Bill was subsequently inaugurated to work on a framework for implementing the proposed structure. Chairman of the working group, Femi Gbajabiamila, had said reform was intended to bring policing closer to Nigerians, while establishing safeguards to make the system more effective and trusted.

The outcome of ongoing votes by 36 Houses of Assembly will determine whether the constitutional process for establishing state police secures required nationwide legislative support.