State Police: FG Panel Submits Draft Bill as Five More States Back Amendment

By James Adamu

The drive for state policing in Nigeria gathered fresh momentum on Tuesday, with the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill submitting its draft legislation to the Ministry of Justice, even as five more state assemblies approved the constitutional amendment backing the reform.

The five — Ogun, Delta, Plateau, Kwara and Adamawa — joined Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Zamfara, bringing to 10 the number of states that have endorsed the alteration, well short of the 24 required for the bill to scale the constitutional threshold.

Draft bill goes to Justice Ministry

The working group, chaired by Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, said it submitted the draft National Policing Bill, 2026, and 29 consequential amendment bills to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on Monday.

In a statement on Tuesday, the panel said the ministry would review the bills for conformity with legislative drafting standards and to ensure they do not conflict with existing laws. The validated drafts are expected back by October 30, after which the group will give them final consideration before presenting them to President Bola Tinubu.

“The proposed National Policing Bill seeks to establish the constitutional and legislative framework for a dual policing structure, made up of a Federal Police Service and State Police Services,” Gbajabiamila said.

The bill works alongside the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, which amends section 214 to replace the single Nigeria Police Force with a federal service and state services. The amendment was transmitted to the 36 state assemblies on September 16 and requires approval from at least 24 of them before it returns to the National Assembly.

Timeline slips, questions follow

The submission appears to have pushed back the executive’s earlier timeline. On October 15, Gbajabiamila told State House correspondents the bill was “90 per cent ready” and would reach the National Assembly by October 29.

Asked about the review period, Kamarudeen Ogundele, media aide to the Attorney-General, pushed back on the suggestion of a deadline. “Is there any rule that says it must be done within one week, two months, three months or four months?” he said. “This thing has a procedure; due process must be followed.”

The Senate, for its part, said it would wait for formal correspondence before taking a position. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, said lawmakers remained committed to concluding the legislation before year-end and dismissed concerns over the 30-day deadline for state assemblies, noting it applied to the states, not the Senate.

How the states voted

Ogun: The House passed a resolution adopting the report of its Ad-hoc Committee on Constitutional Review, chaired by former Speaker Olakunle Oluomo, approving all 26 clauses. Speaker Daisi Elemide called the decision “historic” and directed that a clean copy be sent to the National Assembly.

Delta: All 23 members present voted in favour via head count. Speaker Emomotimi Guwor, who also chairs the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, said the reform would strengthen grassroots policing and create a safer environment for investment under the state’s M.O.R.E Agenda. The House observed a minute’s silence for former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who died on Monday.

Adamawa: The Assembly passed 24 of 26 clauses, rejecting two it said were not properly defined. Speaker Bathiya Wesley directed the Clerk to transmit the approved clauses. Musa Kallam, chairman of the House Committee on Information, said the rejected clauses left some members unclear, but stressed the Constitution limits governors’ control over state police.

Kwara: Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu read the National Assembly’s letter at plenary, after which the House approved the amendment, with lawmakers arguing it would bring policing closer to the people.

Plateau: The House adopted the report of its Ad-hoc Committee, chaired by Prof. Theodore Maiyaki, which described the amendment as timely given manpower shortages in the Nigeria Police Force and prevailing security challenges. Speaker Naanlong Daniel presided.

Kebbi begins consideration

Kebbi became the latest state to receive the bill, with Majority Leader Faruku Aliyu Nassarawa Jega reading the National Assembly’s letter at plenary. Speaker Salihu Maikasuwa Dangoje referred the bill to the House Committee on Internal Security for deliberation.

The amendment needs two-thirds of the 36 assemblies, 24 states, to pass. With 10 states now in favour and Kebbi still at committee stage, the count remains some way from the threshold, though the National Assembly has said it expects all states to have submitted responses by the time the executive transmits its proposals.

Proponents argue that decentralised policing would improve intelligence gathering and response times, particularly in states battling banditry and kidnapping. Critics warn of political interference and abuse of power by governors, concerns the draft bill’s safeguards are meant to address.