Nigeria’s proposed shift towards state-controlled policing has entered a decisive constitutional stage after the National Assembly transmitted the State Police Bill to all 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval.
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, was forwarded to the state legislatures on September 16 by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana. The National Assembly has asked the states to communicate their decisions within 30 days, although officials have stressed that the period is an administrative target rather than a constitutional deadline.
The development marks another major step in the long-running debate over whether Nigeria should retain a centrally controlled police system or allow states to establish their own police services alongside the federal force.
Because the proposal requires an alteration to the 1999 Constitution, approval by the National Assembly alone is not sufficient.
Under Section 9 of the Constitution, the amendment must receive the backing of at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly — equivalent to 24 states — before the constitutional alteration process can be completed.
Ogunlana said the National Assembly recognised the independence and constitutional responsibilities of state legislatures and would await their resolutions before proceeding with the next stage.
The National Assembly later clarified that the State Police Bill was the only constitutional alteration proposal transmitted to state assemblies at this stage, following reports suggesting that several amendment bills had been forwarded.
Calls for decentralised policing have grown amid concerns about kidnapping, banditry, communal violence and other security challenges across different parts of Nigeria.
Supporters argue that state police officers could have stronger knowledge of local communities, terrain and security threats, potentially improving intelligence gathering and response times.
The bill proposes a policing structure in which state services would operate alongside the existing federal police system, while incorporating national standards and oversight mechanisms.
However, the proposal has also generated concerns.
Critics and some lawmakers have warned that without adequate safeguards, state police formations could potentially be subjected to political interference or misuse by powerful state actors. Funding is another major question, particularly because states have significantly different financial capacities. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has argued that predictable and independent funding would be necessary to reduce the risk of political or financial manipulation.
For Nigerians, the debate is about more than changing the police structure.
If approved and successfully implemented, state policing could fundamentally alter how security is managed, placing more operational responsibility closer to communities.
But decentralisation would also require strong accountability systems, sustainable funding, professional recruitment and safeguards against political interference.
The decisions now being considered by the 36 state assemblies will therefore be closely watched. With at least 24 states required to support the amendment, the coming weeks could determine whether one of Nigeria’s most significant proposed security reforms moves closer to becoming part of the Constitution.
Nigeria’s State Police Bill has been transmitted to all 36 State Houses of Assembly, with at least 24 states required to approve the constitutional amendment.
