Reps adopt Tinubu’s state police bill, set aside own proposal
The House of Representatives has set aside its own constitutional amendment proposal on state policing and adopted a similar Executive Bill transmitted by President Bola Tinubu, marking a significant step in the push to establish state police services across Nigeria.
The Executive-sponsored Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, was introduced during Tuesday’s plenary and passed both first and second readings before being referred to the House Committee on Constitutional Review for further legislative work.
The decision effectively sidelines the House’s earlier initiative on state policing, signalling lawmakers’ preference to proceed with the version submitted by the Presidency as momentum builds for reforms aimed at overhauling the country’s policing structure.
The constitutional review committee is expected to undertake a detailed examination of the bill, scrutinising its provisions, safeguards and operational framework for establishing state police services across the federation. Its recommendations will later be presented to the full House for debate before any final decision on the constitutional amendment.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, President Tinubu said the proposed legislation seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide the legal foundation for the establishment of state police as part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
The President said the proposal builds on previous work undertaken by the House of Representatives while introducing additional safeguards to ensure the effective operation of a dual policing system involving both federal and state law enforcement agencies.
“I am delighted to present to the House of Representatives for consideration the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, which seeks to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to create a constitutional pathway for the establishment of State Police Services,” Tinubu said.
He said the proposed framework is intended to address Nigeria’s changing security challenges by creating a more responsive and efficient policing system.
“This Bill builds on the significant work already done in this regard by the House of Representatives and incorporates additional safeguards to ensure that the creation of a dual policing structure to address our nation’s evolving national security challenges can be achieved quickly and effectively to the benefit of all Nigerians,” he added.
Describing the bill as central to his administration’s security reform agenda, the President urged lawmakers to give it speedy consideration.
“The proposed legislation is a critical component of our administration’s strategy to reorganise Nigeria’s security architecture to better protect our citizens and I am confident that the House of Representatives will act quickly to consider and pass this Bill,” he said.
Tinubu also appealed to the House to expedite deliberations, saying the reforms are essential to improving public safety and strengthening the country’s overall security framework.
The President’s transmission of the bill comes less than two weeks after the Senate passed a similar constitutional amendment proposal seeking to establish state police services across the federation.