Kwara, 12 other North-central states back state policing bill

The approval brings the number of state assemblies backing the proposed amendment to 13, according to reports.

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Other North-central states that have supported it include Nasarawa and Plateau, while Taraba, Ogun, Delta, Cross River and Enugu also approved the bill.

The proposed reform seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide for a decentralised policing system comprising the Federal Police Service and state police services.

The move comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and communal violence, with growing calls for security agencies to respond more effectively to local threats.

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 for presidential assent.

With 13 assemblies reportedly having approved the proposal, the amendment remains short of the required threshold.

The Senate passed the amendment on 24 June, and the House of Representatives on 23 July, before it was transmitted to the state assemblies on 16 September 2026.

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Other states back the proposal

In Plateau, lawmakers adopted an ad hoc committee’s recommendations on the proposed constitutional amendment. Lawmakers decided in plenary, presided over by Speaker Naanlong Daniel, after the committee presented its report.

In Nasarawa, the State House of Assembly also approved the proposed amendment, joining other state legislatures backing the establishment of state police.

Taraba lawmakers unanimously approved the proposal on Tuesday. The Speaker, John Bonzena, said the proposed system could help curb criminal activities, create employment and improve collaboration among security agencies.

In Ogun, lawmakers adopted the report of an ad hoc committee on constitutional review and approved the relevant clauses and amendments by voice vote.

The Cross River State House of Assembly also approved the bill, with all 22 members present voting in favour. Three members were absent.

The Speaker, Elvert Ayambem, said the state police should be implemented in line with the rule of law, accountability, and democratic principles, and that security operatives must respect citizens’ fundamental rights.

In Delta, all 23 members present voted in support of the amendment. Speaker Emomotimi Guwor directed the Clerk of the House to communicate the Assembly’s decision to the National Assembly.

Enugu lawmakers also passed a resolution backing the proposal, with Speaker Uche Ugwu announcing the decision.

Group submits draft bills

The development coincided with the Presidential Working Group’s completion of the proposed National Policing Bill.

Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and chairman of the working group, said the group had submitted the proposed legislation and 29 consequential amendment bills to the Federal Ministry of Justice for review and validation.

The submission was made to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, in line with the group’s work plan.

According to Mr Gbajabiamila, the ministry is expected to return the validated drafts to the working group on or before 30 October.

The group will then give the bills final consideration before presenting them to Mr Tinubu for consideration and subsequent transmission to the National Assembly.

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The drafting process is taking place alongside state assemblies’ consideration of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026.

Debate over state police

The establishment of state police has been debated in Nigeria for more than two decades.

Supporters argue that decentralised policing would bring law enforcement closer to communities, improve intelligence gathering and enable quicker responses to local security threats.

However, critics have raised concerns that state governors could abuse their control over state police to target political opponents or suppress dissent.

The proposed reforms are intended to establish the legal and institutional framework for the two-tier policing system. Still, the constitutional amendment must secure the required support from state assemblies before the process can advance.