The Senate has assured Nigerians that legislation to establish state police will be enacted before the end of 2026, following the approval of the relevant constitutional amendment by the required number of state Houses of Assembly.
The latest development came after the Ondo State House of Assembly passed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, on Monday, bringing the number of approving state legislatures to 24.
The bill passed through its second and third readings during plenary, with all lawmakers present supporting its passage.
The other states that had approved the amendment are Osun, Adamawa, Delta, Edo, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, Zamfara, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Ekiti, Kebbi, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Abia, Yobe and Kaduna.
Senate targets passage before Christmas
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, told The PUNCH that the National Assembly was determined to conclude the process before its Christmas break.
He described state police as a priority in the ongoing constitutional review and said the proposed legislation would be considered promptly once the necessary documents were received from the executive.
Adaramodu maintained that the Senate had committed to ensuring that the new policing legislation became law before the end of the 10th National Assembly.
His remarks followed the submission of the draft National Policing Bill, 2026, and 29 consequential amendment bills by the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill to the Ministry of Justice for legislative drafting review and validation.
The working group, chaired by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, expected the ministry to return the validated drafts by October 30. The group would then consider the documents before presenting them to President Bola Tinubu for approval and onward transmission to the National Assembly.
Gbajabiamila had earlier indicated that the proposed bill was 90 per cent ready and would be sent to the National Assembly on October 29.
However, Adaramodu declined to comment on the executive’s proposed timeline, saying the Senate would wait until the bills were formally transmitted to it.
Senate explains constitutional review process
The Senate spokesman also dismissed concerns about delays in obtaining state-level approval, explaining that the 30-day period was intended for state legislatures to submit their contributions.
He said the National Assembly would review the submissions and convene a conference as part of the process.
Adaramodu expressed confidence that the legislation would be completed before the end of the year, adding that lawmakers would ensure that relevant stakeholders had opportunities to contribute because the proposed framework would affect communities across Nigeria.
He said decentralised policing could improve the enforcement of security laws and help address killings, abductions, banditry and terrorism.
According to him, the country had enacted several laws intended to deter criminal activities, but more effective enforcement remained necessary.
Victor Umeh backs decentralised policing
Senator Victor Umeh, who represents Anambra Central, said the approval by 24 state assemblies meant the constitutional amendment had reached the required threshold.
He explained that the bill would return to the National Assembly for verification of the state legislatures’ decisions.
Umeh said the National Assembly supported decentralised policing because of Nigeria’s size and the need to bring security operations closer to local communities.
He argued that a single centralised police structure faced challenges covering communities across the country and that state police commands could improve intelligence gathering and response times.
According to the senator, officers familiar with the local environment could be better positioned to identify threats, understand community dynamics and respond to security incidents.
He maintained that criminal activities often have local dimensions and that intelligence from residents could help security agencies respond more quickly.
Ondo Assembly calls state policing overdue
During deliberations in Ondo, the Assembly’s Majority Leader, Olatunji Oshati, moved the motion for the bill’s passage. The motion was seconded by Allen Oluwatoyin, who represents Ese Odo constituency.
Oshati said lawmakers had considered the implications of the proposed amendment and believed state police could help address the country’s security challenges.
The Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, described the proposed establishment of state police as long overdue, arguing that it could enable security agencies to respond more quickly to crimes and other threats.
He also said decentralised policing could support crime prevention through improved intelligence gathering and proactive security measures.
Oladiji subsequently directed the Clerk of the Assembly, Benjamin Jaiyeola, to transmit the approved document, alongside the legislature’s observations, to the National Assembly.
The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to alter Section 214 of the Constitution by replacing the existing Nigeria Police Force structure with a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.
The Senate passed the Sixth Alteration Bill on June 24, followed by the House of Representatives. The National Assembly transmitted the bill to the 36 state Houses of Assembly on September 16 for consideration.
Source: The PUNCH
