Only five of Nigeria’s 36 State Houses of Assembly had approved the proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police as of Thursday, October 15, raising fresh questions about the progress of the security reform despite a deadline set by the National Assembly.
The approving states are Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Zamfara, while the remaining 31 state legislatures had yet to communicate a final decision on the proposal, according to a report published by The Punch on Friday, October 16.
The development represents a significant hurdle for the proposed reform, which seeks to decentralise Nigeria’s policing system by allowing state governments to establish and operate their own police services alongside the existing Nigeria Police Force.
The National Assembly had given the state legislatures 30 days to consider the proposal and communicate their positions after the constitutional amendment bill was transmitted to them on September 16, 2026. The deadline expired on October 16.
How the Bill Reached the State Assemblies
The State Police Bill followed its passage by the Senate on June 24 and the House of Representatives on July 23, 2026.
The proposed constitutional amendment, titled A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to Provide for the Establishment of State Police Services and for Related Matters, seeks to create the constitutional foundation for a dual policing structure.
Under the proposed arrangement, the Federal Government would retain the Nigeria Police Force, while individual states would have the authority to establish their own police services under appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks.
The proposal is intended to address longstanding calls for a decentralised security system capable of responding more effectively to Nigeria’s diverse security challenges.
However, the constitutional amendment cannot proceed to presidential assent without the required level of approval from state legislatures.
Why 24 State Assemblies Must Approve the Bill
Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution requires a constitutional amendment to be approved by resolutions of at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly.
This means the proposed State Police Bill needs the support of at least 24 state legislatures before the constitutional amendment process can advance to the stage of presidential assent.
With only five states having approved the proposal as of October 15, the bill remained 19 approvals short of the constitutionally required threshold.
The limited number of approvals also raises questions about what steps the National Assembly will take following the expiration of its 30-day deadline.
As of the latest report, the leadership of the House of Representatives had yet to make a formal statement explaining the next steps in the process.
Why Some States Have Yet to Decide
Several state legislatures are still examining the proposal, consulting stakeholders or awaiting formal deliberations before reaching a final position.
In Ogun State, lawmakers have discussed the possibility of holding a public hearing to familiarise residents with the proposed changes and obtain their views before voting.
In Delta State, the Assembly confirmed receipt of the bill but had yet to announce its position, citing the need to follow due legislative processes.
The situation in other states has also reflected varying stages of consideration, with some lawmakers reviewing the proposed framework and others yet to schedule formal debates.
Although the deadline has elapsed, the absence of a final decision from most state legislatures does not, by itself, establish that they have rejected the proposal.
Their eventual positions will determine whether the amendment secures the necessary constitutional support.
Arguments in Favour of State Police
Supporters of state police argue that Nigeria’s centralised policing structure places significant operational responsibilities on the federal police, despite the different security challenges confronting individual states.
They maintain that state-controlled police services could improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community relations and enable faster responses to crimes such as kidnapping, banditry, communal violence and other security threats.
Proponents also argue that officers recruited and deployed within their states could develop a better understanding of local languages, communities, terrain and security conditions.
The proposal has attracted support from political stakeholders who believe decentralising policing would allow state governments to take greater responsibility for addressing insecurity within their jurisdictions.
Concerns Over Possible Abuse
Despite the arguments in favour of state police, concerns remain about the potential misuse of state-controlled security agencies.
Critics have warned that governors could use their influence over state police commands to intimidate political opponents, suppress dissent or target individuals and groups perceived to be hostile to their administrations.
Questions have also been raised about funding, recruitment standards, training, accountability and the ability of less financially equipped states to maintain effective police services.
These concerns make the proposed system’s oversight arrangements particularly important.
Any workable state police framework would need clear safeguards to protect citizens’ fundamental rights, maintain professional standards and prevent political interference in police operations.
It would also need effective coordination between federal and state police services to address crimes that cross state boundaries and threats requiring national-level intervention.
What Happens Next?
The immediate question is how the National Assembly will respond to the limited number of approvals following the expiration of its deadline.
The proposed amendment still requires the support of at least 24 state Houses of Assembly to satisfy the constitutional requirement.
Until that threshold is reached, the constitutional process cannot advance to presidential assent.
The National Assembly’s next official position will therefore be important in determining the timetable and possible next steps for the proposed reform.
For now, the figures reported as of October 15 indicate that the proposal has received approval from only five states, leaving the constitutional amendment far short of the required number.
Conclusion
The slow response from state legislatures has placed the proposed State Police Bill at a critical stage of Nigeria’s ongoing security reform debate.
While supporters consider decentralised policing a possible means of improving responses to local security threats, concerns over political interference, accountability and funding remain central to the discussion.
Whether the proposal advances will depend on the decisions of the remaining state legislatures and the National Assembly’s response to the missed deadline.
For a country grappling with multiple security challenges, the debate is no longer limited to whether state police should be established, but also how such a system can be structured to improve public safety while protecting citizens’ rights.
