The National Assembly of Nigeria has clarified its position on the proposed establishment of state police, emphasizing that the bill requires the concurrence of at least 24 out of 36 state Houses of Assembly before it can proceed to final legislative action and presidential assent. This clarification was made by Kamoru Ogunlana, Clerk to the National Assembly, in a statement on Tuesday. According to Ogunlana, only the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, which deals with the establishment of State Police Services and related matters, has been transmitted to the state legislatures.
The state police proposal has been accorded priority in response to widespread public demands and concerns over security and policing in Nigeria. The National Assembly is seeking to address the issue through an appropriate constitutional and legal framework. This move is part of the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution, which has been necessitated by persistent security challenges and longstanding demands for the decentralisation of policing in the country. Currently, Nigeria operates a centralised police structure under Section 214 of the Constitution, which establishes the Nigeria Police Force.
The National Assembly had announced on September 16 that it had transmitted the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval. However, this announcement generated varying interpretations over whether the transmission covered other proposals being considered under the ongoing constitution review exercise. Ogunlana clarified that only the state police proposal has been transmitted to the states so far, and that other Constitution Alteration Bills would be transmitted to the states only after they had been passed in identical form by the Senate and House of Representatives.
Under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, a constitutional alteration must secure the approval of at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly, which translates to 24 states, after meeting the prescribed threshold in both chambers of the National Assembly. The state police proposal has already been passed by both chambers, clearing the way for consideration by the state legislatures. Once the resolutions of the state Houses of Assembly are received, the National Assembly is expected to take the necessary final legislative steps before the amendment is presented for presidential assent.
The National Assembly had earlier asked the state Houses of Assembly to communicate their resolutions within 30 days of receiving the bill. However, Ogunlana clarified that this period is an administrative timeframe rather than a constitutional deadline. The National Assembly remains committed to ensuring that the ongoing Constitution Alteration process is conducted transparently, responsibly, and in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The renewed push for state police has featured prominently in the current constitution review, with proponents arguing that decentralised policing would bring security personnel closer to communities and improve responses to local security challenges. However, concerns have also been raised in the broader public debate about safeguards against possible abuse by state authorities, funding, command structures, and the relationship between federal and state police services. The Sixth Alteration Bill seeks to provide the constitutional framework for State Police Services and related matters.
The fate of the state police proposal now rests immediately with the 36 state Houses of Assembly. If approved, the bill will be presented for presidential assent, marking a significant shift in Nigeria's policing structure. The National Assembly's clarification aims to ensure that stakeholders are informed about the process and requirements for the proposed constitutional amendment. The ongoing constitution review is expected to address various pressing issues in Nigeria, including security, governance, and the overall framework of the country's laws.
Key points
- The proposed state police bill requires approval from at least 24 state assemblies before final legislative action and presidential assent.
- Only the state police proposal has been transmitted to state legislatures so far, not other proposed constitutional alterations.
- The National Assembly remains committed to a transparent and responsible constitution alteration process.
