The Houses of Assembly in Osun, Edo, Oyo, and Rivers states have endorsed the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police across Nigeria. This development follows the transmission of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration by the National Assembly. The bill aims to amend the 1999 Constitution to create a legal and institutional framework for the establishment and operation of state police.
The process of considering the bill is in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines the procedure for altering the Constitution. To proceed, the amendment needs approval from not less than two-thirds of all state Houses of Assembly, which translates to 24 Houses. The National Assembly leadership has set a 30-day administrative timeframe to encourage Houses to consider the proposal and communicate their positions. Osun State was the first to kick-start the process, followed by Edo, Rivers, and Oyo states.
In Osun State, the Majority Leader, Babajide Kofoworola, moved a motion for approval, which was seconded by Tajudeen Adeyemi. They argued that the measure would strengthen security arrangements in the state. The Speaker, Egbedu, directed that the approved amendments and resolutions be forwarded to the National Assembly for further consideration. The Osun State House also dissolved into a committee of the whole to consider the Osun State Park Management System Bill 2026.
The Edo State House of Assembly unanimously approved the amendment bill, with the Majority Leader, Osezua Sunday Ojezelle, highlighting its significance and urging lawmakers to support its passage. Several lawmakers, including Donald Okogbe, Charity Aiguobaehian, Richard Edosa, Kingsley Ugabi, and Maria Edeko, supported the bill, citing its potential to create employment, strengthen security at the community level, and improve peace and security in the state.
In Rivers State, the lawmakers endorsed the proposal on September 27, with Speaker Martins Amaewhule presenting the bill to the House. He explained that the bill seeks to create a constitutional pathway for the establishment of State Police Services, subject to the Constitution and an Act of the National Assembly prescribing national minimum policing standards. All 25 members voted in support of the bill by show of hands.
The Oyo State House of Assembly acted on September 29, with Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin presiding over the plenary. He noted that passage of the bill would have significant legislative implications for the Oyo Assembly, particularly the need to develop a comprehensive State Police Law to translate the constitutional framework into an effective operational institution. The proposed amendment would restructure Nigeria's policing architecture by providing for a Federal Police Service alongside State Police Services.
The push for state police has intensified amid persistent security challenges and concerns over the capacity of the centrally controlled Nigeria Police Force to respond effectively to threats across the vast territory. Supporters argue that state-controlled police could bring policing closer to communities, improve local intelligence, and enable quicker responses to threats peculiar to individual states. The proposal has received backing from President Bola Tinubu, with the administration advancing broader reforms aimed at restructuring policing and improving internal security.
Key points
- Four Nigerian state assemblies have voted in favor of a constitutional amendment to establish state police.
- The proposed amendment seeks to create a constitutional basis for states to establish and operate their own police formations alongside existing federal structures.
- The push for state police aims to address security challenges and concerns over the capacity of the centrally controlled Nigeria Police Force.
