The establishment of state police in Nigeria has crossed a major constitutional hurdle, with 28 State Houses of Assembly approving the proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution, clearing the way for its transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
The development means the bill has secured more than the two-thirds approval required from the 36 state legislatures, raising hopes for a major overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture.
The Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly confirmed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, saying the 28 approvals had been received and verified.
The statement, signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, said the bill seeks to amend the Constitution to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and related matters.
The bill was transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026, for consideration and approval. The state legislatures were asked to communicate their decisions to the National Assembly within 30 days.
Although the deadline expired on October 15, Ogunlana said the Clerk’s office would continue to receive reports from state legislatures until the bill is transmitted for presidential assent.
He disclosed that the 28 approvals had been authenticated alongside the accompanying Votes and Proceedings to confirm that they accurately reflected the decisions of the respective assemblies.
Under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, a constitutional amendment of this nature requires approval from at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, representing 24 states.
Ogunlana also clarified that the Constitution does not expressly require a Third Reading for a Constitution Alteration Bill, unlike the procedure applicable to ordinary legislation.
With the required threshold surpassed, the National Assembly is now undertaking the administrative processes necessary to transmit the bill to Tinubu for assent in accordance with the Acts Authentication Act.
The proposed amendment could fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s policing system, which currently operates predominantly through the centrally controlled Nigeria Police Force.
Supporters of state police have argued that allowing states to establish their own police services would bring security operations closer to communities, improve intelligence gathering and enable faster responses to local threats.
However, the proposed reform has also raised questions about funding, accountability, operational independence and the potential for state governors to misuse local police forces against political opponents.
The National Assembly described the development as a significant step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and deepening its federal system.
It also commended the state legislatures for their cooperation in the constitutional amendment process.