Six state assemblies back state police bill in one day
- Lawmakers in Taraba, Kwara, Delta, Ogun, Plateau and Nasarawa approved the Sixth Alteration Bill on state police.
- The bill already passed the Senate in June and the House of Representatives in July 2026.
- State assemblies are sending their decisions back to the National Assembly for further action.
State Houses of Assembly across the country moved the proposed state police closer to reality on Tuesday, with lawmakers in six states approving the Sixth Alteration Bill to the 1999 Constitution.
The bill seeks to create a legal framework for states to set up and fund their own police services, while keeping the Nigeria Police Force as the federal police.
In Taraba, the Speaker, John Kizito Bonzena, said the plan would help curb crime, create jobs and improve cooperation among security agencies. The House unanimously adopted the bill after the Majority Leader, Jethro Yakubu Zikengyu, laid it before members.
Kwara's Assembly approved the amendment at Tuesday's plenary after the Speaker, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, read a letter from the Clerk of the National Assembly. The House Leader, Abdulkadri Magaji, led the debate on its benefits.
In Delta, 23 lawmakers voted in support after the Speaker, Emomotimi Guwor, read the National Assembly's request. The House Leader, Emeka Nwaobi, said a dual policing system would let states tackle insecurity, especially in local areas.
Ogun passed a resolution backing the bill after a report by its Ad-hoc Committee on Constitutional Review, chaired by former Speaker Olakunle Oluomo. The Speaker directed that a clean copy be sent to the National Assembly.
Plateau approved it at plenary presided over by Speaker Naanlong Daniel, following a committee report presented by Theodore Bala Maiyaki. In Nasarawa, Speaker Danladi Jatau announced the approval in Lafia and directed the Clerk to inform the National Assembly.
Why it matters to ordinary Nigerians
Security is a daily concern for many families, from kidnapping and banditry to armed robbery. Supporters say state police would bring officers closer to communities, improve local intelligence and speed up response to crimes.
Critics have long warned that state-controlled police could be used against political opponents, but the sources here report only the lawmakers' support.
The bill passed the Senate on 24 June 2026 and the House of Representatives on 23 July 2026. The state assemblies are now sending their decisions back to the National Assembly for further legislative action.
What happens next
The National Assembly will collate the states' resolutions. Under the constitution, a constitutional amendment needs the backing of at least two-thirds of the 36 state assemblies, meaning 24 states, before it can take effect.
