Nigeria’s proposed state police system has moved a step closer to establishment after the National Assembly confirmed that 28 State Houses of Assembly have approved the constitutional amendment seeking to create decentralised police services.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, November 3, confirming that the approvals had exceeded the constitutionally required threshold of 24 states.
According to “Channels Television” the National Assembly has completed the verification of the approvals and is undertaking the administrative processes required to transmit the bill to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
The proposed amendment, known as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, seeks to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and related matters.
28 states meet constitutional requirement
Under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, a proposed constitutional alteration must receive approval from at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly. This amounts to 24 of Nigeria’s 36 state legislatures.
Ogunlana confirmed that his office had received and verified reports from 28 state assemblies, alongside their accompanying Votes and Proceedings, to establish that the approvals reflected the decisions actually taken by the lawmakers.
The bill was initially transmitted to all 36 state assemblies on September 16, 2026, with a request that they communicate their decisions within 30 days.
Although the deadline expired on October 15, Ogunlana said his office would continue receiving reports from state legislatures until the bill is transmitted for presidential assent.
National Assembly prepares to transmit bill
The Clerk said the National Assembly was undertaking the necessary administrative procedures to forward the bill to Tinubu.
He also clarified that Section 9 of the Constitution does not expressly require a third reading for a Constitution Alteration Bill, unlike the procedure for ordinary legislation.
As reported by “The Guardian“, the National Assembly confirmed that the submitted state approvals had been authenticated before proceeding with the next stage.
The proposed amendment has also attracted attention because earlier public statements from senior government and legislative officials placed the number of approving states at around 30. The Clerk’s latest confirmation establishes the officially verified figure at 28.
What state police would mean for Nigeria
The proposed reform seeks to decentralise Nigeria’s policing structure by allowing states to establish their own police services alongside the existing Nigeria Police Force.
Supporters of the proposal have argued that state-level policing could improve local responses to crime by bringing security operations closer to communities and allowing authorities to address challenges specific to their states.
However, questions surrounding funding, accountability, political interference, operational standards and the protection of citizens’ rights remain important considerations in discussions about the proposed system.
The National Assembly’s confirmation means the amendment has secured the required state-level approvals, but state police have not yet been established. The bill must proceed through the remaining constitutional and administrative steps before the proposed system can become operational.
