The House of Representatives on Thursday took a significant step toward the decentralisation of Nigeria’s security architecture, adopting the report on the proposed establishment of state police and approving 18 constitutional amendment clauses .
The report was adopted during Thursday’s plenary session presided over by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas .
In a decisive vote, the House passed the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police across the federation. Approximately 288 lawmakers voted in support of the bill, while only four members voted against it .
The bill, 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; and for Related Matters (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026,” was approved during consideration at the Committee of the Whole .
The proposed amendment seeks to fundamentally restructure policing in Nigeria by creating both Federal and State Police formations. Key provisions alter Section 214 of the Constitution to formally establish state police services in each state of the federation .
18 Constitutional Clauses Approved
The approved clauses formed part of recommendations considered by lawmakers during deliberations on constitutional amendments aimed at strengthening governance, security, and institutional effectiveness across the country .
The bills span critical thematic areas including security and policing, electoral reforms, judicial reforms, local government administration, and fiscal reforms, among others .
What the State Police Bill Entails
The proposed legislation seeks to transfer policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, thereby empowering states to establish and control their own police formations .
Under the draft amendment, state police is defined as a law enforcement agency established to operate within a state and maintain law and order within its jurisdiction . Community policing is also defined as a system that promotes cooperation between law enforcement agencies, residents, and local institutions in preventing crime .
Safeguards built into the bill include:
· Commissioners of Police to be appointed by governors on the recommendation of the Federal Police Service Commission, with approval from State Houses of Assembly
· State Police Service Commissions to include members from the National Human Rights Commission, Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Labour Congress, and journalists
· The Federal Police Service Commission to retain authority to supervise compliance and review operations of state police
Previous Consultations and Support
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who chairs the House Committee on Constitution Review and is the lead sponsor of the bill, had disclosed ahead of the vote that extensive consultations were conducted on the proposed alteration .
Kalu explained that the Inspector General of Police, the executive arm of government, and the 36 state governors have already expressed support for the establishment of state police .
He noted that the extant laws, particularly Section 214 and other related sections, do not adequately provide for the kind of decentralised policing structure required to effectively combat insecurity .
“We have discovered that leaving the law as it is will not give us the expected results Nigerians desire,” Kalu had stated ahead of the vote .
Next Steps
The passage by the House marks a significant milestone, but the bill must still undergo further legislative processes. It will be transmitted to the Senate for concurrence, after which it must be approved by at least 24 of the 36 state Houses of Assembly before it can be sent to President Bola Tinubu for assent .
Kalu expressed optimism about swift ratification, stating: “We have seen the body language of the governors of these 36 states, and they are in support of state police. They will work hand in hand with their Houses of Assembly to ensure that it is returned to Mr President for his assent as quickly as possible” .
If eventually adopted, the amendment would represent one of the most significant changes to Nigeria’ security framework since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
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