The proposed state police system in Nigeria has gotten off to an uneven start, with several Houses of Assembly yet to receive the Constitution amendment bill from the National Assembly. The National Assembly transmitted the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to all state legislatures on September 16, giving them 30 days to consider and return their resolutions. The bill seeks to allow states to establish their own police.
The fate of state police now rests with the 36 State Houses of Assembly, which must approve the bill for it to scale through. At least 24 assemblies must approve the amendment, which is a constitutional requirement. Proponents of state police argue that it will improve local security response, while critics warn of funding challenges, potential abuse, and political control.
A BusinessDay investigation revealed divergent responses across the states, highlighting the complexity of moving the reform from the federal legislative process into the 36 state legislatures. The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria said many state assemblies were still waiting for formal transmission of the bills. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, chairman of the conference, said legislatures would scrutinize each proposal on its individual merits once formally transmitted.
In some states, such as Rivers, Adamawa, Anambra, and Kaduna, there was no confirmation that the State Police Bill had been transmitted to the House of Assembly. However, in Bayelsa, the bill had been transmitted to the legislature, but lawmakers were awaiting the approval of Governor Douye Diri before commencing proceedings. Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has expressed support for the National Assembly's passage of the bill, describing it as a bold and commendable step toward strengthening Nigeria's security architecture.
Plateau State is among the assemblies that have moved beyond the transmission stage, with the 10th Assembly receiving and beginning to scrutinize the proposed State Police Bill. The Assembly has constituted a committee to examine the provisions, study the implications of establishing state police, and engage stakeholders. Kogi State lawmakers said the bill had not yet reached the Assembly but indicated they were prepared to act once the necessary constitutional and executive procedures were completed.
The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria will engage the Nigeria Governors' Forum to harmonize views on the proposed framework before state legislatures communicate their positions to the National Assembly. The proposed state police framework requires particular scrutiny due to its implications for state governance and the constitutional relationship between the federal and state governments.
As the 30-day window for consideration of the bill approaches, state assemblies are expected to take a stance on the proposed state police system. With the bill's passage in both chambers of the National Assembly, the focus now shifts to the state legislatures, which will determine the fate of state police in Nigeria. The outcome will have significant implications for Nigeria's security architecture and the relationship between the federal and state governments.
Key points
- The proposed state police system requires approval from at least 24 state assemblies to scale through.
- The National Assembly transmitted the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to all state legislatures on September 16.
- State assemblies have divergent responses to the proposed state police system, with some awaiting transmission of the bill and others already scrutinizing its provisions.
