The House of Representatives on Thursday passed through third and final reading a constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police services across Nigeria, marking a significant milestone in one of the country’s most ambitious security reform initiatives since the restoration of democratic governance in 1999.
The legislation, titled the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, was approved following the adoption of the report of the House Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
The bill received overwhelming support from lawmakers, with 289 of the 290 members present voting in favour, while only one member opposed the proposal.
If eventually enacted, the amendment would provide a constitutional framework for the establishment and operation of state police services throughout the federation, fundamentally altering Nigeria’s policing architecture and introducing a multi-tiered law enforcement structure aimed at addressing local security challenges more effectively.
Under the proposed legislation, the National Assembly would be empowered to prescribe the structure, organisation, administration and powers of the Federal Police, while also establishing minimum standards for the creation and operation of state police forces.
The bill stipulates that no state police organisation may commence operations unless it has been established through legislation passed by the relevant State House of Assembly and certified as compliant with nationally prescribed standards. Until such certification is granted, the Federal Police would continue to exercise policing powers within the affected state.
The proposed amendment also seeks to redefine the relationship between federal and state policing authorities. Federal intervention in state security matters would be restricted to specific circumstances, including situations involving a complete breakdown of law and order beyond the capacity of a state police force, formal requests by state governors, or cases where a state police organisation becomes inoperative due to administrative, financial or operational difficulties.
In addition, the legislation formally recognises the Federal Capital Territory as falling under the territorial jurisdiction of the Federal Police.
Significant changes are also proposed to the appointment and command structures of policing institutions. Under the amendment to Section 215 of the Constitution, the Inspector-General of Police would be appointed by the President on the advice of the Nigeria Police Council from among serving members of the Federal Police, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly.
Similarly, State Commissioners of Police would be appointed by governors on the recommendation of the Nigeria Police Council from among serving officers of their respective state police services, subject to confirmation by State Houses of Assembly.
Governors would be authorised to issue lawful directives to State Commissioners of Police concerning public safety and the maintenance of law and order. However, where a commissioner considers such directives unlawful or inconsistent with accepted policing standards, the matter may be referred to the Nigeria Police Council, whose determination would be final.
The voting process was preceded by a brief procedural dispute concerning the timing of the Constitution Review Committee’s report.
Malam Bashir Usman, representing Birnin Gwari/Giwa Federal Constituency in Kaduna State, objected to the consideration of the report, arguing that lawmakers had received the document too late to conduct a thorough examination of its contents.
Usman questioned the urgency of debating major security reforms without adequate scrutiny and expressed concern that security agencies had yet to provide satisfactory explanations for their inability to effectively protect lives and property.
Responding to the objection, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas ruled that members were already familiar with the issues under consideration and insisted that debate should proceed in light of the deteriorating security situation across the country.
“Let us, for the sake of insecurity in the country, consider the issue,” Abbas stated as he directed the lawmaker to resume his seat.
Following the ruling, House Leader Professor Julius Ihonvbere moved a motion to suspend relevant House rules to allow immediate consideration of the report. The motion, seconded by Minority Leader Frederick Agbedi, was subsequently adopted through a voice vote.
Presenting the report, Deputy Speaker Kalu acknowledged the extensive nature of the constitutional review exercise but explained that priority had been given to security-related amendments, particularly the state police proposal.
“We have a bulky document. Today we have abridged it by prioritising a few of them,” he told lawmakers.
Urging members to support the legislation, Kalu described the proposal as a historic reform capable of strengthening local security systems and improving public safety.
“With state police, we will get people who know us and can protect us. Let us show Nigerians that their lives are protected. I beg this House to leave a lasting legacy,” he appealed.
Following the failure of the electronic voting system, lawmakers conducted a manual vote by a show of hands after the Speaker read the long title of the bill and put the question before the House.
The overwhelming support recorded during the exercise underscored growing legislative backing for decentralised policing amid persistent concerns over insecurity nationwide.
Speaking after the passage of the bill, Abbas described security as the foundation upon which all other national aspirations depend.
“By passing this Bill, the House has taken a decisive constitutional step towards creating a policing framework that is more responsive to local realities while remaining firmly anchored within the unity and sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Kalu similarly hailed the outcome as evidence of the House’s responsiveness to widespread calls for security sector reform and improved governance structures.
In a related development, the Senate on Thursday passed for second reading a separate bill seeking to establish state police and transfer certain policing responsibilities to sub-national governments.
The legislation, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, is 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), 2026 (SB.794).
The bill received broad bipartisan support before being referred to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, chaired by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, for further legislative consideration.
Leading debate on the proposal, Bamidele argued that Nigeria’s worsening security challenges had exposed the limitations of the country’s centralised policing structure.
He cited terrorism, banditry, mass abductions, farmer-herder conflicts, cultism, armed robbery, pipeline vandalism and cybercrime among the threats stretching the capacity of existing security institutions.
According to him, the proposed reforms would modernise Nigeria’s security framework through the establishment of federal and state policing structures with clearly defined responsibilities and oversight mechanisms.
The legislation would also move policing powers from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, enabling both federal and state governments to exercise constitutional authority over policing matters.
Addressing concerns that governors could abuse state police forces for political purposes, Bamidele noted that the bill contains several safeguards, including federal oversight mechanisms, uniform national standards, legislative confirmation of senior appointments and periodic reviews of state police operations.
He maintained that decentralised policing would improve intelligence gathering, enhance response times to security threats and strengthen public confidence in law enforcement institutions.
Drawing comparisons with federal systems such as the United States, Canada, Australia and Germany, Bamidele argued that Nigeria should adopt a similar multi-layered policing framework.
“Nigeria, as a federation, should not be an exception,” he said.
Despite widespread support, the Senate debate was not without controversy. Senator Adamu Aliero of Kebbi Central raised a constitutional point of order, reminding lawmakers that constitutional amendment bills require the support of not less than two-thirds of members of each chamber of the National Assembly and must subsequently receive approval from at least two-thirds of State Houses of Assembly.
“I support the idea of state policing, but we must comply with the provisions of the Constitution,” Aliero stated.
“Otherwise, if we go ahead with this debate, whatever we decide, whatever we do, will be a nullity.”
His intervention prompted senators to enter a closed-door executive session before returning to the chamber to continue legislative business.
The state police proposal will now be examined alongside other constitutional amendment bills before returning to the Senate floor for further consideration.
Should the amendment ultimately secure approval by both chambers of the National Assembly, endorsement from at least 24 State Houses of Assembly and presidential assent, Nigeria would enter a new era of decentralised policing.
Supporters argue that the reform could significantly strengthen local responses to banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes. Critics, however, continue to warn against the potential political misuse of state-controlled police formations.
As the constitutional amendment process advances, the debate over state police one of the most contentious issues in Nigeria’s constitutional and security discourse is expected to intensify in the months ahead.
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