The proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police has suffered a setback, with only five of Nigeria’s 36 state Houses of Assembly approving the bill as of Thursday, October 15, 2026.
The Assemblies of Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Zamfara have approved the proposed amendment, which seeks to decentralise the country’s policing system by providing for the establishment of state police services alongside the Federal Police Service.
Several other state legislatures are still consulting stakeholders, studying the bill or yet to begin deliberations, leaving the proposal far short of the constitutional requirement of approval by at least 24 state Assemblies.
The bill was transmitted to the state legislatures on September 16, 2026, following its passage by the Senate on June 24 and the House of Representatives on July 23.
The 30-day deadline given to the Assemblies to communicate their positions expires today, October 16.
However, the leadership of the House of Representatives has yet to issue a formal statement on the progress of the exercise or outline the next steps following the limited number of approvals.
Under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, a constitutional amendment requires approval by at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly, representing 24 states, before it can be presented to the President for assent.
The slow pace of approval raises concerns about the prospects of the proposed reform, which has featured prominently in national discussions on addressing insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and communal violence.
Supporters of state police argue that decentralised policing would enable states to respond more effectively to local security challenges. However, concerns persist over the potential misuse of state-controlled security agencies for political purposes.
The proposed amendment outlines a framework for the administration, oversight and accountability of state police services, with each state empowered to establish its own service through legislation.
