National Assembly To Transmit State Police Bill To Tinubu For Assent As 29 States Approve

Nigeria has taken a significant step towards decentralising its policing system, following the decision of the leadership of the National Assembly to transmit the harmonised State Police Bill, 2026, to President Bola Tinubu for presidential assent.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, announced the development during plenary on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, saying the bill had secured the constitutionally required approval from the State Houses of Assembly.

According to Kalu, the Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly had received reports from 29 of the 36 State Houses of Assembly confirming their endorsement of the proposed constitutional amendment.

The development marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s longstanding debate over the restructuring of its security architecture, particularly the establishment of state police to complement the existing federal policing system.

The proposed legislation seeks to provide constitutional backing for the establishment of State Police Services, allowing state governments to exercise policing responsibilities within their jurisdictions under a framework to be prescribed by law.

Kalu described the achievement as historic, noting that the required threshold for constitutional alteration had been met.

He said the National Assembly leadership had consequently instructed the Clerk to transmit the bill to President Tinubu for assent.

“The leadership of the National Assembly wishes to inform honourable members and the general public that as of the close of business yesterday, Tuesday, 3rd November, 2026, the office of the Clerk to the National Assembly had received reports from 29 State Houses of Assembly on a Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and for related matters,” Kalu stated.

“Consequently, the leadership of the National Assembly has directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to transmit the bill today, Wednesday, 4th November, 2026, to His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for assent.”

The transmission follows months of legislative deliberations and renewed calls for a fundamental review of Nigeria’s policing structure in response to persistent security challenges across the country.

Constitutional Requirements Satisfied

The State Police Bill is a constitutional amendment and therefore requires compliance with the special procedure prescribed under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The provision requires a constitutional alteration to secure the support of not less than two-thirds of all members of each chamber of the National Assembly, as well as resolutions approving the amendment from at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly.

With 29 state legislatures reportedly endorsing the proposal, the bill has surpassed the minimum requirement of 24 states.

The endorsement represents an important achievement in a process that requires consensus across Nigeria’s federal and state legislative institutions.

The constitutional amendment is designed to establish the legal foundation for state policing and provide the framework for the reorganisation of police responsibilities between the federal and state governments.

The next stage involves presidential assent, after which the constitutional changes can take effect in accordance with the law.

The National Assembly’s decision to transmit the bill signals that the legislature considers the constitutional approval process sufficiently completed to proceed to the executive stage.

Security Challenges Drive Demand For State Police

The push for state police has gained momentum amid growing concerns over insecurity in several parts of Nigeria.

The country continues to grapple with terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence, armed robbery and other violent crimes, with security challenges varying significantly from one region to another.

In many rural communities, residents have repeatedly expressed concerns about the ability of conventional security agencies to respond promptly to attacks, particularly in areas with difficult terrain and limited security infrastructure.

Advocates of state policing argue that Nigeria’s centralised police structure places excessive operational responsibilities on the Federal Government and limits the ability of state authorities to respond effectively to local security threats.

They contend that police officers recruited and deployed within individual states would be better positioned to understand local languages, cultural dynamics, criminal networks and geographical peculiarities.

The argument is that decentralised policing could improve intelligence gathering, community engagement and response times, while reducing the pressure on the Nigeria Police Force.

Supporters also maintain that state police could enable governors and local authorities to develop security strategies tailored to the specific challenges confronting their communities.

However, the proposal has historically attracted concerns over possible political interference, human rights abuses and the potential misuse of security institutions by powerful state officials.

These concerns have formed a major part of the national debate surrounding the establishment of state police.

A Major Shift In Nigeria’s Policing Architecture

The proposed constitutional amendment could represent one of the most significant changes to Nigeria’s internal security structure since the establishment of the present federal policing arrangement.

Under the existing system, the Nigeria Police Force operates principally under federal control, with state governments having limited direct authority over policing operations.

The establishment of State Police Services would introduce a more decentralised arrangement in which state-level police institutions operate alongside the federal police.

Such a development would require clear delineation of responsibilities, operational coordination, recruitment standards, funding arrangements and mechanisms for accountability.

The effectiveness of the proposed system would depend significantly on how these responsibilities are defined and implemented.

A decentralised structure could potentially improve policing efficiency by bringing security administration closer to the people.

Nevertheless, it would also require safeguards to ensure that state police officers remain accountable to the law rather than serving as instruments of political intimidation or partisan interests.

The relationship between state police commands and the federal police would be particularly important in addressing crimes that cross state boundaries or involve national security concerns.

Safeguards And Implementation Will Be Critical

Although the transmission of the bill represents a significant legislative achievement, the actual establishment of effective state police services will depend on the quality of the legal and institutional framework governing their operations.

Nigeria’s experience with security institutions has demonstrated the importance of professional standards, adequate funding, operational independence and effective oversight.

For state policing to achieve its objectives, recruitment and promotion processes would need to be transparent and based on merit.

Training institutions would also need to prepare officers for modern policing, including intelligence-led operations, investigation, crime prevention, human rights protection and community policing.

The proposed framework would need to address concerns about the use of state police against political opponents, journalists, protesters and other citizens exercising constitutionally protected rights.

Independent complaints mechanisms, judicial oversight and legislative supervision would be essential to ensuring that decentralisation does not create new opportunities for abuse.

The financial implications would also be substantial.

State governments would have to provide funding for personnel, equipment, operational facilities, communication systems, vehicles and training.

For states with limited internally generated revenue, maintaining a professional police service could present significant challenges.

Consequently, the success of state police would depend not only on constitutional approval but also on sustainable funding and effective institutional management.

Tinubu’s Assent And The Road Ahead

The transmission of the harmonised bill places President Tinubu at the next stage of the constitutional process.

His assent would mark a major step towards the formal constitutional establishment of State Police Services.

The development is likely to intensify public expectations that the new arrangement will help address Nigeria’s security challenges and improve the protection of lives and property.

However, constitutional reform alone cannot resolve the country’s security problems.

The effectiveness of state policing would depend on the capacity of state governments, the professionalism of personnel, cooperation with federal security agencies and the availability of adequate resources.

It would also require a coordinated national strategy to ensure that decentralisation strengthens rather than fragments Nigeria’s security architecture.

The National Assembly’s decision to transmit the bill after receiving approval from 29 state legislatures nevertheless represents a landmark moment in the country’s political and security evolution.

For supporters of state police, the development brings Nigeria closer to a system in which security administration is more responsive to local realities.

For the country as a whole, the challenge will be to translate the constitutional breakthrough into a professional, accountable and effective policing system capable of restoring public confidence and improving security across the federation.