State Police: 24 states approve constitutional amendment — Gbajabiamila

Twenty-four state assemblies have approved the constitutional amendment for the establishment of state police, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said.

Gbajabiamila, who chairs the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, said the approval met the constitutional threshold of two-thirds of the 36 states required for the amendment.

In a statement on Friday, he commended the state assemblies for their action and the National Assembly for passing the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, in both chambers.

He said the amendment could now be returned to the National Assembly for transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent, in line with Section 9 of the Constitution.

“The approval gives constitutional backing to the policing framework that the Working Group’s draft National Policing Bill, 2026 is designed to implement,” he said.

Gbajabiamila said the draft bills were undergoing legislative drafting review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice.

He added that the bills were expected to be returned to the working group on or before Friday, October 30, 2026, for final consideration before being presented to the President.

“The Working Group’s efforts remain on track,” he said.

He urged stakeholders to support the transition to a dual policing system, saying the reform was intended to improve public safety.

“The Working Group urges all stakeholders to support a smooth transition to a dual policing system that makes Nigerians safer,” he said.