The National Assembly has completed the authentication of approvals from 28 state Houses of Assembly for the proposed State Police Bill and is now preparing to transmit the legislation to President Bola Tinubu for assent. The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, announced the development in a statement on Tuesday, confirming that the number of approving state legislatures surpassed the constitutional threshold required for a constitutional amendment.
Approvals Exceed Constitutional Requirement
According to Ogunlana, the 28 approvals exceed the minimum of 24 states stipulated under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, which requires the backing of not less than two-thirds of the 36 state legislatures for any constitutional alteration. The Clerk explained that his office had carried out the necessary administrative verification of the reports and accompanying votes and proceedings submitted by the state assemblies to establish their authenticity and ensure that the records accurately reflected the decisions taken by each legislature.
“In view of the approvals secured from the required number of state Houses of Assembly, the necessary administrative processes are being undertaken to facilitate the transmission of the Bill to His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for assent, in accordance with the Acts Authentication Act, CAP A2, (LEN) 2004,” Ogunlana stated.
Timeline of the Amendment Process
The bill was transmitted 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 that deadline expired on October 15, the Clerk noted that his office would continue to receive reports from state legislatures until the bill was formally transmitted for presidential assent.
Ogunlana also addressed a procedural point, clarifying that Section 9 of the Constitution does not expressly prescribe a third reading for a Constitution Alteration Bill, unlike the procedure that applies to ordinary bills. The authentication of the state assemblies’ decisions is a critical step before the bill can be forwarded to the President.
What the Bill Seeks to Achieve
The proposed legislation, formally titled the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, seeks to amend the Constitution to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and related matters. The move comes amid renewed calls for a decentralised policing system to address Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
Nigeria currently operates a centrally controlled police system under the Nigeria Police Force, with state governments lacking independent police commands. Proponents of state police argue that the reform would enable states to respond more effectively to local security threats, including kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and communal violence. Supporters also contend that decentralised policing would improve intelligence gathering and allow security operations to be tailored to local circumstances.
However, the proposal has not been without controversy. Concerns have been raised about possible political abuse, inadequate funding and the protection of human rights under state-controlled police structures. These issues have featured prominently in the long-running debate over the establishment of state police in Nigeria.
Next Steps
Ogunlana commended the state legislatures for their cooperation in considering the proposed amendment, describing the development as an important step towards strengthening the country’s security architecture and deepening its federal system. The transmission of the bill to the President would pave the way for the next stage of the constitutional amendment process, bringing the proposal closer to becoming law.
The Clerk said his office would continue to provide timely information on developments relating to the amendment as the process advances.
