The National Assembly is set to transmit the proposed State Police Bill to President Bola Tinubu for assent after 28 State Houses of Assembly approved the constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police services.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, confirming that the number of approvals had exceeded the constitutional requirement of at least 24 state legislatures.

He said his office had completed the administrative verification of the reports and accompanying Votes and Proceedings to confirm that the approvals accurately reflected the decisions of the respective assemblies.

According to Mr Ogunlana, the National Assembly is now undertaking the necessary processes to transmit the bill to the President in line with the Acts Authentication Act, 2004.

28 states meet constitutional requirement

The proposed amendment requires approval from at least two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 State Houses of Assembly, representing 24 states, under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution.

Mr Ogunlana said the bill was transmitted to the 36 state legislatures on 16 September 2026, for consideration, with a request that their decisions be communicated to the National Assembly within 30 days.

Although the stipulated period expired on 15 October, he said his office would continue to receive reports from state assemblies until the bill was transmitted for presidential assent.

He also clarified that Section 9 of the Constitution does not expressly require a third reading for a constitutional alteration bill, unlike the procedure for ordinary bills.

What state police amendment seeks to achieve

The proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution seeks to establish State Police Services alongside the existing federal policing structure.

Nigeria currently operates a centrally controlled police system through the Nigeria Police Force, with state governments lacking independent police commands.

Supporters of decentralised policing argue that allowing states to establish their own police services would improve intelligence gathering and enable security agencies to respond more effectively to local threats, including kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and communal violence.

However, concerns have also been raised about the possibility of political interference, inadequate funding and the protection of human rights under state-controlled police structures.

Presidential assent is the next stage

The approval by 28 state assemblies marks a significant step in the constitutional amendment process, but it does not mean state police services will become operational immediately.

The National Assembly must complete the remaining administrative and constitutional procedures before the bill is formally transmitted to President Tinubu for assent.

The development brings Nigeria closer to a major restructuring of its policing system, following years of debate over whether a centralised police structure can adequately address the country’s security challenges.