The House of Representatives has passed a landmark constitutional amendment bill to establish state police across Nigeria, aiming to decentralize the country’s security architecture.
During a historic plenary session on Thursday, June 11, 2026, the lower chamber of the National Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of the proposal, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s prolonged debate over local policing and national insecurity.
Landslide Victory in the House
The piece of legislation, officially titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to Provide for the Establishment of State Police; and for Related Matters (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026,” received resounding legislative backing.
Presided over by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, the lawmakers resorted to a manual count to verify the constitutionally required quorum for a constitutional amendment. The results were clear:
289 lawmakers voted in favor of the bill.
4 lawmakers voted against it.
0 abstentions were recorded.
Following the landslide vote, the House officially passed the bill before adjourning sittings until July 7, 2026, for their end-of-legislative-year recess.
Key Provisions and Operational Safeguards
The 18-clause bill seeks to fundamentally restructure Nigeria’s law enforcement apparatus by moving policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List.
The proposed amendments to Sections 214 and 215 of the 1999 Constitution outline a strict framework to guide the transition to a multi-layered policing system:
Dual Structure:
The amendment formally creates two distinct tiers, the Federal Police and State Police formations.
National Standards and Certification: No state police force can begin operations immediately.
A state must first pass an enabling law through its own House of Assembly, and the formation must be certified by the National Assembly as meeting strict national minimum standards.
Interim Federal Control: Until a state formally establishes and certifies its local force, the Federal Police will maintain sole responsibility for security operations within that state.
Strict Limits on Federal Interference:
The Federal Police can only intervene in a state’s internal security under exceptional conditions: a total breakdown of law and order, a direct request from the state governor, or severe administrative/financial failure of the state force.
Checks on Executive Abuse:
To address long-standing fears that governors might weaponize local forces against political opponents, a state’s Commissioner of Police will be appointed by the governor only on the advice of the National Police Council and subject to confirmation by the State House of Assembly.
The Push for Decentralization
The legislative breakthrough follows intensified pressure on the government to combat rampant security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping.
Proponents of the bill have long argued that a centralized command structure in Abuja hampers rapid response and starves local communities of effective intelligence-gathering.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who actively championed the acceleration of the bill, emphasized that the House prioritized this reform as a vital legislative response to citizens’ demands.
He noted that extensive consultations had revealed broad consensus among the executive arm, the Inspector-General of Police, and the 36 state governors.
President Bola Tinubu, through statements from the presidency, has also consistently backed the initiative, viewing state police as a mechanism to strengthen grassroots security and improve the protection of lives and property.
Next Steps for the Bill
While the passage in the House of Representatives is a major hurdle cleared, the bill still faces a rigorous constitutional process before becoming law.
Senate Concurrence:
The bill has been referred to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution for alignment and passage by the upper chamber.
State Assembly Endorsement:
Because it alters the constitution, the bill must be transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly, where it requires the endorsement of at least two-thirds (24 states) of the federation.
Presidential Assent:
Once the state-level approvals are secured, the bill will return to the executive arm for the final presidential signature.
