State police bill heads to Tinubu: what it means and what happens next
A constitutional amendment that would allow Nigeria’s states to have their own police services is on its way to President Bola Tinubu for his signature, after 28 of the 36 State Houses of Assembly voted to approve it.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, confirmed the approvals in a statement on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, according to TheNigeriaLawyer. “The Office confirms that 28 State Houses of Assembly have approved the Bill,” he said. That is more than the two-thirds (24 states) required under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution.
What is the bill?
Its full name is the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026. It would create a legal basis for State Police Services to exist alongside the federal Nigeria Police Force.
Today, policing in Nigeria is centralised. All police officers belong to the Nigeria Police Force, which is controlled from Abuja, and states have no police commands of their own.
How it got here
| Date | Step |
|---|---|
| 24 June 2026 | Senate passed the amendment |
| 23 July 2026 | House of Representatives passed it |
| 16 September 2026 | Sent to the 36 State Houses of Assembly |
| 15 October 2026 | 30-day deadline for state responses |
| 3 November 2026 | Clerk confirms 28 states approved |
The Clerk’s office has not yet published which 28 states voted yes and which eight did not.
What happens next
The bill now goes to the President. Once he signs it, the Constitution will allow states to set up police services, but they will not appear overnight. Further laws will be needed to decide how state police officers are recruited, paid, trained and supervised.
The arguments
Supporters say police officers who come from and work in their own communities will gather better local intelligence and respond faster to kidnappings, banditry and other attacks.
Critics worry that some governors could use state police against political opponents, that many states cannot afford their own forces, and that there must be clear rules on accountability, human rights and how state and federal police work together.
Why it matters to you
For most Nigerians, the question is simple: will it make communities safer? That depends on the details still to come: funding, oversight and who controls the officers. Jogos Media will follow each step.
