The Oyo State House of Assembly has passed a constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish State Police Services. The bill was passed for third reading during plenary on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, after the House constituted itself into a Committee of the Whole and considered the provisions of the bill clause by clause. The sitting was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin.
The development followed the transmission of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, by the National Assembly to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval. The bill seeks to provide a constitutional framework for the establishment of State Police Services. This move is part of the ongoing efforts to reform the policing system in Nigeria.
The National Assembly had asked the state legislatures to consider the bill in accordance with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions after completing their deliberations. Under the constitutional amendment process, the proposed alteration requires approval by at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly before further steps can be taken at the federal level.
With the passage of the bill, the Oyo State House of Assembly will communicate its resolution to the National Assembly as part of the ongoing constitutional alteration process. This move is expected to contribute to the national debate on state policing and its potential impact on security and governance in Nigeria. The Oyo Assembly's decision is seen as a significant step towards the establishment of state police services.
The passage of the bill is a major milestone in the efforts to establish state police services in Oyo State. The bill's sponsor and other proponents have argued that state police services will enhance security and allow for more effective policing at the grassroots level. The Oyo Assembly's approval is expected to add momentum to the national campaign for state policing.
The Oyo State House of Assembly's decision to pass the bill was made after careful consideration of the provisions and implications of the proposed alteration. The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, oversaw the process, ensuring that the bill was thoroughly examined and debated before its passage. The Assembly's resolution will now be transmitted to the National Assembly for further action.
The passage of the State Police bill by the Oyo Assembly brings to the fore the discussions on the need for state policing in Nigeria. The bill's transmission to the National Assembly is expected to contribute to the ongoing national conversation on the future of policing in the country. The outcome of this process will be closely watched by stakeholders and observers.
Key points
- Oyo State House of Assembly passes constitutional amendment bill to establish State Police Services.
- The bill's passage is a significant step towards the establishment of state police services in Nigeria.
- The Oyo Assembly's resolution will be transmitted to the National Assembly for further action.
