28 State Assemblies Approve State Police Bill As Constitutional Amendment Clears Hurdle
..Bill to be transmitted to Tinubu for assent, says National Assembly Clerk
The proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish State Police Services in Nigeria has secured the required legislative approval, with 28 out of the 36 State Houses of Assembly endorsing the Bill.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, Esq., confirmed that the approvals had surpassed the constitutionally required two-thirds majority, clearing the way for the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill to be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Ogunlana disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, November 3, explaining that the development satisfied the requirement under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution for the passage of a constitutional amendment.
According to him, the Bill was forwarded to all 36 State Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026, for consideration and approval, with a request that their decisions be communicated to the National Assembly within 30 days.
Although the deadline expired on October 15, the Clerk said his office would continue to receive reports from state legislatures until the Bill is formally transmitted for presidential assent.
He explained that the Office of the Clerk had commenced administrative verification of the reports and accompanying Votes and Proceedings to authenticate the decisions communicated by the respective state legislatures.
Ogunlana also clarified that Section 9 of the Constitution does not specifically require a Third Reading for a Constitution Alteration Bill, unlike the procedure for ordinary legislative bills.
He noted that, following the attainment of the required number of state approvals, the National Assembly was undertaking the necessary administrative procedures to transmit the Bill to President Tinubu in line with the Acts Authentication Act, CAP A2 (LFN) 2004.
The Clerk commended the State Houses of Assembly for their cooperation and timely response, describing the proposed amendment as an important step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and deepening the country’s federal system.
He assured Nigerians that his office would continue to provide accurate and timely updates on the constitutional amendment process.
The establishment of State Police has remained a major subject of national debate, with growing calls for decentralised policing to address Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.
