The National Assembly has begun reviewing submissions from state Houses of Assembly on the proposed establishment of state police, with Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, confirming that the constitutional requirement for the reform has been satisfied.
Bamidele made this known on Thursday while delivering a lecture to participants of Senior Executive Course 48 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State.
He disclosed that at least 30 of the 36 state legislatures had approved the State Police Constitution Alteration Bill, 2026, exceeding the constitutional requirement of approval by two-thirds of state assemblies.
According to the Senate Leader, the National Assembly will now examine and compile the reports received from the states before passing a resolution through a simple majority in both chambers. The bill will subsequently be forwarded to President Bola Tinubu for presidential assent.
Bamidele, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, said the legislature was working towards completing the remaining stages of the process by December 2026.
He described the development as a significant step towards decentralising Nigeria’s security system, noting that the proposed reform had progressed beyond political discussions.
He explained that Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, requires approval from at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly for constitutional alterations, adding that the requirement had now been fulfilled.
The proposed state police system forms part of broader efforts to address Nigeria’s security challenges, including killings, kidnappings and other violent crimes.
Under the current arrangement, the Nigeria Police Force operates largely under the control of the Federal Government. Supporters of state policing believe decentralisation would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen local responses to security threats and increase accountability.
However, concerns remain over the possibility of governors and other political office holders using state police to intimidate political opponents.
Addressing these concerns, Bamidele said the proposed arrangement would be guided by constitutional provisions, oversight structures and human rights protections.
He maintained that the objective was not to establish state armies or weaken the Federal Government but to create community-based policing systems capable of responding more effectively to local security needs.
The Ekiti senator also acknowledged the role of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, in supporting the proposed reform, assuring Nigerians that the National Assembly would complete the process.
Beyond security reforms, Bamidele highlighted other legislative priorities of the 10th National Assembly, particularly laws aimed at improving citizens’ welfare, economic development and public institutions.
He listed the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2024; the Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, 2024; the four Tax Reform Acts of 2025; and the National Social Investment Programme Act among the major legislation passed by the current Assembly.
Other laws mentioned included the Electoral Act, 2026, the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, the Investments and Securities Act, 2025, the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act, 2024, and the Regional Development Commissions Acts.
He argued that legislative performance should be measured by the impact of laws on citizens rather than simply the number of bills passed.
The Senate Leader further stressed the importance of effective implementation, adequate funding and proper monitoring, noting that legislation must address real societal needs and produce measurable improvements.
He also called for stronger cooperation between the National Assembly and NIPSS to improve policy development and legislative planning.
Source: The Punch
