FRI OCT 23 2026-theGBJournal| Nigeria’s plan to establish state police has cleared a major constitutional hurdle after 24 State Houses of Assembly approved a proposed amendment, paving the way for the next stage of the reform.
The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill welcomed the development, saying the approvals had met the constitutional requirement of support from at least two-thirds of the country’s 36 state legislatures.
The proposed reform would introduce a dual policing system comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services, allowing states to establish their own police organisations alongside the federal force.
In a statement issued on Friday, the working group said the approval of the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, provided constitutional backing for the policing framework it was developing.
The group is chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila, President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff.
It commended the state assemblies for supporting the amendment and praised the National Assembly for passing the proposal through both chambers.
Under Section 9 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, a constitutional amendment of this nature requires approval by at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly, equivalent to 24 states, before it can proceed to presidential assent.
The latest development represents a significant step towards changing a policing system that has been the subject of debate for more than two decades.
The working group said the amendment could now be returned to the National Assembly for transmission to President Tinubu for assent.
It said this would follow the procedure outlined in Section 9 of the Constitution.
Separately, the group is preparing the proposed National Policing Bill, 2026, which is intended to establish the legal and operational framework for the new system.
The draft legislation, alongside 29 consequential amendment bills, was submitted to the Federal Ministry of Justice on 19 October for legislative drafting review and validation.
According to the statement, the ministry is expected to return the reviewed documents to the working group by 30 October.
The group will then consider the validated drafts before presenting them to the president.
The proposed legislation is intended to clarify how the federal and state police services will operate within the new policing structure.
The working group said it remained committed to delivering a comprehensive framework and urged stakeholders to support a smooth transition to a dual policing system.
The proposal comes amid persistent security challenges across Nigeria, including kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, communal violence and attacks on rural communities.
Nigeria currently operates a centrally organised police system under the Nigeria Police Force, with the federal government exercising primary control over the institution.
Supporters of state police argue that a single national structure can struggle to respond effectively to security threats across a country with 36 states, diverse communities and different local security conditions.
They say state-controlled police services could improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community relations and enable officers to respond more quickly to crimes.
State authorities could also have greater responsibility for identifying local security priorities and deploying personnel to address them.
President Tinubu has backed the establishment of state police as part of efforts to improve security and decentralise policing responsibilities.
The proposal has gained renewed attention as the government faces pressure to tackle insecurity and improve the protection of lives and property.
Despite growing support for the reform, the proposal has raised concerns about the potential abuse of state-controlled police forces.
Critics have warned that state governors could use their influence over police appointments, funding and deployment to target political opponents, suppress protests or intimidate critics.
There are also questions about how state police services would be funded, how their officers would be recruited and trained, and how disputes between federal and state authorities would be resolved.
The relationship between the proposed state services and the federal police will be particularly important in determining how effectively the new system operates.
Clear rules on jurisdiction, accountability, operational independence and the protection of fundamental rights are likely to be central to the implementation framework.
The proposed National Policing Bill is expected to address the institutional and operational arrangements needed to support the dual system.
The creation of state police has been debated in Nigeria for years, with successive administrations facing calls to decentralise law enforcement.
The debate centres on whether a centralised police structure can adequately address the country’s diverse security challenges or whether greater authority should be transferred to state governments.
Proponents argue that local authorities are better positioned to understand the security needs of their communities and coordinate responses to emerging threats.
Opponents, however, have questioned whether all states have the financial resources and institutional capacity to maintain effective police services.
Others have warned that decentralisation without strong oversight could create additional security and governance problems.
The latest approvals mark a major advance for proponents of state police, but the practical implications will depend on the final legislation and how the system is implemented.
For now, the working group has urged Nigerians and other stakeholders to support the transition, saying the objective is to build a policing system that makes the country safer.
X-@theGBJournal|email:gbj@govbusinessjournal.com|govandbusinessj@gmail.com
