Five additional state Houses of Assembly have approved the proposed constitutional amendments seeking to establish state police in Nigeria, as the Federal Government advances plans to introduce a decentralised policing system.
The approving states are Ogun, Delta, Plateau, Kwara and Adamawa, joining Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Zamfara, which had earlier endorsed the proposed amendments.
The development comes amid growing calls for a restructuring of Nigeria’s security architecture to address persistent challenges, including kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and other violent crimes.
According to a report by The PUNCH on Wednesday, the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill has submitted the draft National Policing Bill, 2026, alongside 29 consequential amendment bills, to the Federal Ministry of Justice for legislative drafting review and validation.
The group’s chairman and Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the documents were submitted to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on October 19.
He explained that the ministry’s review would ensure that the proposed legislation complies with legislative drafting standards and does not conflict with existing laws.
The ministry is expected to return the validated drafts to the working group on or before October 30, 2026, for final consideration before presentation to the President.
WHAT THE PROPOSED LAW SEEKS TO ACHIEVE
The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to alter Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution to provide for a dual policing structure comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.
Under the proposed arrangement, state governments would have the constitutional framework to establish and fund their respective police services, subject to the provisions of the law.
Supporters of the proposal argue that decentralising policing would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community-level security and enable law enforcement agencies to respond more quickly to local threats.
However, the proposal has also generated concerns over the potential misuse of state police by governors against political opponents and critics.
These concerns have intensified calls for adequate constitutional safeguards, operational independence, accountability and effective oversight to prevent political interference and human rights abuses.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROCESS
The proposed amendment was transmitted to the 36 state assemblies in September for consideration following its passage by the National Assembly.
At least 24 state Houses of Assembly must approve a constitutional amendment before it can proceed to the next stage of the legislative process.
The Presidential Working Group said its drafting assignment was progressing alongside the state assemblies’ consideration of the proposed constitutional changes.
The National Assembly is expected to consider the constitutional amendment process and the accompanying legislative proposals in line with the relevant constitutional requirements.
Although the latest approvals represent progress towards establishing state police, the proposal must pass through the required constitutional and legislative stages before implementation can begin.
The success of the proposed system will ultimately depend on the strength of its accountability mechanisms, funding arrangements, recruitment standards and safeguards against political abuse.
