Nigeria’s proposed transition towards a state-based policing system has reached another stage after 28 State Houses of Assembly reportedly endorsed the constitutional amendment designed to pave the way for its establishment.
The National Assembly has confirmed that the number of approvals received exceeds the constitutional minimum of 24 states required for the alteration process.
Arrangements are now underway to forward the bill to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, according to the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana.
The proposal seeks to introduce State Police Services into Nigeria’s constitutional framework, potentially giving individual states the legal basis to establish police formations within their territories.
The development comes amid continuing national conversations about how best to tackle insecurity and whether the existing centralised policing structure can adequately address the different security threats confronting communities across the federation.
In a statement released in Abuja on Tuesday, Ogunlana said the National Assembly had completed the verification of reports submitted by the state legislatures and was preparing the necessary documents for the next stage of the process.
He explained that the administrative arrangements were being handled in accordance with the Acts Authentication Act, CAP A2 (LEN) 2004, as cited in the statement.
Constitutional requirement reached
The approval of 28 state legislatures represents a significant milestone in the effort to amend the 1999 Constitution to accommodate state police services.
Section 9 of the Constitution establishes the requirements for constitutional alteration, including the level of support needed from state legislatures.
For the proposed amendment, the required number is at least 24 of Nigeria’s 36 states.
With 28 approvals reportedly received, the proposal has surpassed that threshold.
However, the National Assembly has emphasised that the records submitted by the state legislatures must be properly authenticated as part of the administrative process.
Ogunlana disclosed that his office examined the reports alongside the respective Votes and Proceedings to establish whether the documents were genuine and accurately reflected the decisions reached by the assemblies.
The verification is intended to ensure that the records relied upon in advancing the constitutional amendment are consistent with the decisions formally taken by the state legislatures.
Having confirmed the required number of approvals, the National Assembly is now preparing to transmit the bill to Tinubu for the next step under the applicable legal procedure.
Why the October deadline did not close the process
The state assemblies were initially given 30 days to communicate their positions on the proposed amendment after the bill was sent to them on September 16, 2026.
That period ended on October 15, 2026. Nevertheless, the deadline has not stopped the National Assembly from receiving additional reports from state legislatures.
Ogunlana clarified that his office would continue accepting submissions until the bill was transmitted for presidential assent.
This means that state assemblies wishing to communicate their decisions can still submit the relevant documentation before the transmission process is completed.
The clarification addresses the administrative handling of the reports following the expiration of the original period set for responses.
The Clerk also addressed the question of whether a Third Reading was necessary for the constitutional amendment bill.
He explained that Section 9 of the Constitution does not expressly prescribe a Third Reading for constitutional alteration bills in the same way that the legislative procedure for ordinary bills may require.
The distinction is relevant because constitutional amendments follow a special procedure involving both the National Assembly and the state legislatures.
Insecurity keeps state policing debate alive
The proposal for state police has attracted considerable attention as Nigeria continues to grapple with kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and other forms of violent crime.
These security challenges vary across the country’s geopolitical zones, with different communities facing different threats and requiring responses suited to their circumstances.
Advocates of decentralised policing have argued that state authorities could be better positioned to identify local security concerns, gather intelligence within their communities and coordinate responses to emerging threats.
The proposal could also change the relationship between federal and state authorities in the administration of internal security.
Under the existing policing arrangement, the Nigeria Police Force operates as a national institution. Establishing state police services would therefore require constitutional provisions defining how the proposed state-level structures would function alongside federal policing institutions.
Questions surrounding operational independence, accountability, funding, recruitment and the protection of citizens’ rights are among the issues that would need careful attention in designing any new system.
The constitutional amendment is intended to provide the legal foundation for the proposed arrangement. Its precise implications would depend on the final provisions adopted and the laws and safeguards governing implementation.
National Assembly acknowledges states’ participation
The National Assembly has commended the state legislatures for participating in the consideration of the proposed amendment.
According to Ogunlana, their responses have helped the initiative reach the required level of support for the constitutional alteration process to advance.
He described the proposal as part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security framework and improve the operation of its federal system.
The Clerk also pledged that his office would continue to provide information about developments concerning the amendment.
For now, the immediate task is to complete the administrative arrangements required to transmit the bill to the President.
Although the reported approvals from 28 state assemblies represent a major step forward, the next stage must follow the applicable constitutional and legal requirements.
The proposed establishment of state police services remains a significant issue in Nigeria’s security reform debate, with the latest development bringing the initiative closer to the next stage of the legislative process.
About The Author
