28 States Approve State Police Bill, NASS Prepares To Send It To Tinubu

The National Assembly has received approval from 28 State Houses of Assembly for a proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police in Nigeria.

The approvals have surpassed the constitutional requirement of 24 states, representing two-thirds of the 36 states, paving the way for the bill to be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, noting that the reports submitted by the state legislatures had been verified alongside their votes and proceedings.

According to Ogunlana, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, which seeks to establish State Police Services and address related matters, was sent to the 36 State Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026, for consideration.

The state legislatures were initially given 30 days, ending October 15, to communicate their decisions to the National Assembly. Ogunlana, however, said his office would continue to receive reports until the bill is transmitted for presidential assent.

He said the 28 approvals exceeded the threshold prescribed under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution.

The clerk added that the National Assembly had carried out administrative verification of the reports and accompanying records to confirm their authenticity and ensure they reflected the decisions of the respective state assemblies.

Ogunlana also clarified that Section 9 of the Constitution does not expressly require a third reading for a constitutional amendment bill, unlike ordinary legislation.

With the required number of state approvals secured, the National Assembly said administrative processes were underway to transmit the bill to Tinubu for assent.

The proposed reform would allow states to establish their own police services, marking a major change to Nigeria’s current policing structure, which is centrally controlled at the federal level.