National Assembly moves to send state police bill to Tinubu
The National Assembly has announced plans to transmit the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police to President Bola Tinubu for assent after 28 state Houses of Assembly approved the proposal.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying the approvals exceeded the constitutional requirement of at least 24 of Nigeria’s 36 states.
“The Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly wishes to inform the general public that it has received reports from 28 State Houses of Assembly indicating their approval of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, seeking to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and related matters,” the statement said.
The bill was transmitted to the 36 state legislatures on 16 September 2026, with a request that they communicate their decisions within 30 days.
Although the deadline expired on 15 October, Ogunlana said his office would continue receiving reports until the bill was forwarded for presidential assent.
He said the National Assembly had verified the resolutions and accompanying legislative records to establish their authenticity.
“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,” he said.
Ogunlana also clarified that Section 9 of the constitution does not expressly require a third reading for constitutional alteration bills, unlike the procedure applicable to ordinary legislation.
He said the necessary administrative processes were under way to facilitate the transmission of the bill to Tinubu in accordance with the Acts Authentication Act.
“In view of the approvals secured from the required number of State Houses of Assembly, the necessary administrative processes are being undertaken to facilitate the transmission of the Bill to His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for assent,” the statement said.
The National Assembly commended the state legislatures for their cooperation, describing the proposed amendment as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and deepen federalism.
The proposed legislation seeks to provide a constitutional framework for establishing state police services, a significant departure from Nigeria’s existing centrally controlled policing structure.
The amendment has not yet become law, pending completion of the remaining constitutional and authentication processes.