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Nigeria's National Assembly Transmits State Police Bill To 36 State Assemblies, Gives 30 Days To Respond
Nigeria's National Assembly Transmits State Police Bill To 36 State Assemblies, Gives 30 Days To Respond
NEWS
The Nigerian Record
9/17/20262 min read
The National Assembly has transmitted the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish State Police Services to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, transmitted the bill on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, following directives from the leadership of the National Assembly.
Ogunlana said the state legislatures were expected to consider the bill and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly within 30 days of receiving it.
He, however, clarified that the 30-day period was an administrative timeframe and not a constitutional deadline, as the Constitution does not prescribe a specific period within which state Houses of Assembly must respond to constitutional alteration bills.
The transmission marks another stage in the constitutional amendment process required to establish state police services across Nigeria.
Under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, a bill seeking to alter the Constitution requires the approval of not less than two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly before the amendment process can proceed to the next stage. This means at least 24 state legislatures must approve the proposal.
The proposed amendment seeks to create a dual policing structure comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.
Under the bill, each state would be able to establish a State Police Service through a law passed by its House of Assembly, subject to the constitutional framework and national minimum standards prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.
The Federal Police Service would continue to perform federal policing functions and would remain responsible for policing a state until its State Police Service becomes operational.
The proposed State Police Service would be responsible for functions including enforcement of state laws, maintenance of public safety and order, prevention and detection of offences within its policing jurisdiction, and protection of lives and property.
The bill also provides for national minimum standards covering areas such as recruitment, training, certification, appointment, promotion, discipline, use of force, firearms, custody, complaints, criminal information, intergovernmental cooperation, public reporting and accountability.
The National Assembly's latest action follows months of legislative consideration of the state police proposal.
The Senate passed a constitutional amendment bill providing for State Police Services in June, while the House of Representatives also considered legislation on the matter. The House subsequently rescinded its earlier version after President Bola Tinubu transmitted an Executive Bill on State Police to the National Assembly, leading lawmakers to consider the new framework.
The proposal has been presented as part of broader efforts to address Nigeria's security challenges by decentralising aspects of policing and allowing states to establish police services tailored to local security needs.
The bill also contains safeguards intended to regulate the relationship between state and federal police authorities. Among other provisions, it retains the Federal Police Service's role in federal policing matters and provides for national minimum standards for both federal and state police services.
Ogunlana said the National Assembly recognised the constitutional responsibility and independence of the State Houses of Assembly in considering the proposed amendment.
He urged the state legislatures to consider the bill in accordance with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly after concluding their deliberations.
The Clerk said the National Assembly's expectation of a 30-day response was intended to facilitate an orderly and timely conclusion of the constitutional amendment process, rather than impose a constitutional deadline.
He added that the National Assembly would take the necessary next steps after receiving the resolutions of the State Houses of Assembly.
The National Assembly also reaffirmed its commitment to due process, institutional cooperation and compliance with the constitutional procedure for altering the country's supreme law.