State Police Nears Reality As 28 States Approve Amendment, Bill Moves To Tinubu

Nigeria moved closer to establishing state police on Tuesday after the National Assembly confirmed that 28 State Houses of Assembly have approved the constitutional amendment bill seeking to create State Police Services.

The development marks a major step in the long-running push to decentralise Nigeria’s security architecture and allow states to establish their own police formations.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, Esq., disclosed in a statement that his office had received approval reports from 28 states on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill.

The bill seeks to provide a legal framework for the establishment of State Police Services and related matters.

According to the National Assembly, the bill was transmitted to all 36 State Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026, for consideration and approval.

The state assemblies were given 30 days to communicate their decisions, with the deadline ending on October 15.

However, the Clerk noted that 28 states had approved the amendment, exceeding the constitutional requirement of at least two-thirds of the 36 state assemblies, which is equivalent to 24 states.

“This represents more than the constitutionally prescribed threshold of not less than two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, equivalent to 24 States, as required under Section 9 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999,” the statement said.

The National Assembly said it had completed verification of the reports and accompanying votes and proceedings from the state assemblies to confirm their authenticity.

With the required number of states approving the amendment, the bill will now be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

The move is expected to shape Nigeria’s security structure by giving states greater responsibility in addressing local security challenges.

Supporters of state police have argued that a decentralised policing system would improve intelligence gathering and enable security agencies to respond faster to threats within communities.

The National Assembly described the development as a significant step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and deepening the country’s federal system.

The final decision now rests with President Tinubu, whose assent will determine the next stage in the process of establishing state police in Nigeria.