The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a constitutional amendment bill to establish state police across Nigeria, marking a significant step in the country’s long-running debate over decentralising policing and tackling insecurity.
The bill, 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,” was approved during consideration at the Committee of the Whole, presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. The voting was conducted manually after the House’s electronic voting system reportedly developed technical faults.
Out of the 290 members present at the plenary, 289 voted in favour of the bill, none voted against it, and the Speaker abstained from voting. The near-unanimous vote followed a rowdy session triggered by disagreements over the counting methodology. Some lawmakers openly protested the hand-count method, describing it as archaic and lacking sufficient transparency for a critical constitutional division.
Before the voting began, Kaduna lawmaker Bashir Zubairu moved a point of order, explaining that the document on the proposed state police put together by the House Committee on Constitution Review only reached the lawmakers on Thursday afternoon. He argued that members had insufficient time to rigorously study the 18-clause constitutional amendment report and urged the leadership to step down the item. However, the objection was overridden, allowing the process to proceed.
The proposed amendment seeks to fundamentally restructure policing in Nigeria by creating both Federal Police and State Police formations. One of the key provisions of the bill alters Section 214 of the Constitution to formally establish the two police bodies. Under the proposal, the National Assembly would be empowered to prescribe the structure, organisation, administration and powers of the Federal Police, while also providing the framework and guidelines for the establishment of state police services.
The bill stipulates that no state police formation shall commence operations unless it is established through a law passed by the relevant State House of Assembly and certified as meeting national minimum standards prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly. It further provides that until a state police force becomes operational, the Federal Police will continue to perform policing functions in that state.
The amendment also seeks to limit federal interference in the operations of state police. Under the proposal, the Federal Police may only intervene in a state’s internal security affairs in cases of a complete breakdown of law and order, upon the request of a governor, or where a state police force becomes unable to function due to administrative, financial or other challenges.
The bill also proposes significant changes to the appointment and command structure of the police. Under the amended Section 215, the Inspector-General of Police would be appointed by the President on the advice of the National Police Council from among serving members of the Federal Police, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly. Similarly, a State Commissioner of Police would be appointed by a governor on the advice of the National Police Council from among serving members of the State Police, subject to confirmation by the State House of Assembly. The proposal empowers governors to issue lawful directives to State Commissioners of Police on matters relating to public safety and order. However, where a commissioner believes such directives are unlawful or inconsistent with accepted policing standards, the matter may be referred to the National Police Council, whose decision would be final.
Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Benjamin Kalu, who is also the lead sponsor of the bill, presented arguments in support of the proposal and urged lawmakers to back the measure. Speaking earlier in the week, Kalu disclosed that the House had resolved to prioritise security-related bills, including the state police bill, in response to the escalating security crisis in the country.
Kalu explained that the extant laws, particularly Section 214 and other related sections, do not adequately provide for the kind of decentralised policing structure required to effectively combat insecurity and ensure faster response to criminal incidents. He noted that extensive consultations had already been held with major stakeholders, including the Inspector-General of Police, governors and officials of the executive arm of government, all of whom support the proposed state policing framework.
The Deputy Speaker further disclosed that all members currently outside Abuja carrying out oversight functions had been directed to immediately suspend their engagements and return to the National Assembly for Thursday’s voting session. He expressed optimism that the House would successfully conclude deliberations on the proposal, assuring Nigerians that lawmakers remain united in their determination to strengthen the country’s security architecture.
The passage of the bill represents a major milestone in the push to decentralise policing and strengthen internal security amid growing concerns over terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes across the country. Proponents of state police have long argued that a decentralised policing structure would improve intelligence gathering, enhance rapid response capabilities and enable state governments to tackle local security challenges more effectively.
Under current law, policing sits on the Exclusive Legislative List, meaning that only the Federal Government can control law enforcement. The amendment passed by the House will move policing to the Concurrent Legislative List, giving state governments the legal backing to set up, fund and run their own police forces.
The bill will now progress to the Senate for concurrence as part of the rigorous constitutional amendment process. For the amendment to become law, it must secure the support of at least two-thirds of members in both chambers of the National Assembly, which translates to a minimum of 73 senators and 240 members of the House of Representatives. If passed by the Senate, it will be transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration and ratification. At least 24 states must approve it before it can be forwarded to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Kalu expressed confidence that the amendment would receive swift approval from state legislatures once transmitted by the National Assembly. He noted that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum had transmitted its inputs to the House of Representatives Special Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review and that the body language of the 36 governors is in support of state police. He also disclosed that the National Assembly is considering repealing the existing Police Act and re-enacting it to comprehensively incorporate provisions for state police.
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