State Police Bill secures required two-third approval, heads to Tinubu

The push to establish State Police has crossed a major constitutional hurdle, with 28 State Houses of Assembly approving the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to create state-controlled police forces.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, confirmed the approvals in a statement, saying the number exceeds the two-thirds threshold required under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution.

According to the statement, the Bill was transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026, for consideration, with a 30-day window that elapsed on October 15.

Ogunlana said his office would, however, continue to receive reports from state legislatures until the Bill is transmitted for presidential assent.

The Clerk also clarified that Section 9 of the Constitution does not expressly require a Third Reading for a Constitution Alteration Bill, unlike the procedure for ordinary legislation.

With the required approvals secured, the National Assembly is now undertaking the necessary administrative processes to transmit the Bill to President Bola Tinubu for assent, in accordance with the Acts Authentication Act.

The development marks a significant step towards the proposed restructuring of Nigeria’s policing system, which would allow states to establish and operate their own police forces.