Nigeria’s long-running push for state police has moved closer to reality after 28 state Houses of Assembly approved the proposed constitutional amendment, clearing the required threshold for the National Assembly to forward the bill to President Bola Tinubu.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, announced the development on Tuesday, confirming that the approvals had been authenticated and that arrangements were underway to transmit the bill to the President for assent.
Under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, a constitutional amendment requires the support of at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly, representing 24 states.
With 28 state legislatures now backing the proposal, the amendment has secured more than the minimum number of approvals required at the state level.
In a statement, Ogunlana said his office had completed the administrative verification of the reports and voting records submitted by the state assemblies to confirm that they accurately reflected the decisions taken.
He said, “The office has also undertaken the necessary administrative verification of the reports and accompanying votes and proceedings to establish their authenticity and ensure that the records accurately reflect the decisions taken by the respective state Houses of Assembly.
“In view of the approvals secured from the required number of state Houses of Assembly, the necessary administrative processes are being undertaken to facilitate the transmission of the Bill to His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for assent, in accordance with the Acts Authentication Act, CAP A2, (LEN) 2004.”
28 states meet constitutional requirement
According to the clerk, the proposed amendment was forwarded to all 36 state Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026, with a request that they consider the bill and communicate their decisions to the National Assembly within 30 days.
The deadline expired on October 15. However, Ogunlana said his office continued receiving reports from state legislatures after the deadline.
“Following the receipt and verification of the reports, the office confirms that 28 State Houses of Assembly have approved the Bill,” the statement read.
He explained that the number exceeded the constitutional requirement of at least 24 state assemblies under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution.
The clerk also addressed the legislative procedure surrounding the proposed amendment, clarifying that the Constitution does not expressly require a third reading for a Constitution Alteration Bill, unlike ordinary legislation.
“It is pertinent to clarify that Section 9 of the Constitution does not expressly prescribe a third reading for a Constitution Alteration Bill, unlike the procedure applicable to ordinary Bills,” he stated.
The National Assembly is now preparing the necessary documents for transmission to Tinubu in accordance with the Acts Authentication Act, Cap A2 (LFN) 2004.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and related matters.
Its progress comes amid mounting pressure on the Federal Government and security agencies to reconsider Nigeria’s centralised policing structure following persistent attacks, kidnappings, banditry, terrorism and communal violence across the country.
Under the existing arrangement, the Nigeria Police Force operates as a centrally controlled institution, with state governments unable to establish independent police commands.
Supporters of state policing argue that allowing individual states to operate their own police services would improve intelligence gathering, shorten response times and make security operations more responsive to local threats.
They also contend that state governments, being closer to affected communities, are better positioned to identify emerging security concerns and deploy personnel accordingly.
However, the proposal has continued to attract concerns over the possibility of governors using state police to intimidate political opponents, suppress dissent or interfere in local disputes.
Questions have also been raised about funding, operational independence, accountability and safeguards against human rights violations.
These concerns have remained central to discussions about how state police should operate without becoming instruments of political control.
Ogunlana commended the state Houses of Assembly for their cooperation in considering the proposed constitutional amendment.
He described the approvals as an important development in efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and deepen its federal system.
The transmission of the bill to Tinubu represents the next stage of the legislative process, although presidential assent should not be confused with the automatic establishment of operational state police structures.
Further legal and institutional arrangements will be necessary to give effect to the proposed system.
Ogunlana assured Nigerians that his office would continue to provide updates on developments surrounding the constitutional amendment.
For now, the approval by 28 state assemblies has cleared the state-legislature threshold, leaving the National Assembly to complete the transmission process ahead of the next constitutional step.
