State police: 28 assemblies approve, Tinubu’s assent next

President Bola Tinubu. Photo: State House

The National Assembly is set to transmit the proposed State Police Bill to President Bola Tinubu for assent after completing the authentication of approvals secured from 28 state Houses of Assembly.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, confirming that the number of state legislatures that had approved the proposed constitutional amendment exceeded the constitutionally required threshold of 24 states.

He said, “The office has also undertaken the necessary administrative verification of the reports and accompanying votes and proceedings to establish their authenticity and ensure that the records accurately reflect the decisions taken by the respective state Houses of Assembly.

“In view of the approvals secured from the required number of state Houses of Assembly, the necessary administrative processes are being undertaken to facilitate the transmission of the Bill to His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for assent, in accordance with the Acts Authentication Act, CAP A2, (LEN) 2004.”

The authentication process is a key step towards transmitting the bill to the President for assent.

The bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and related matters, amid renewed calls for a decentralised policing system to address Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.

According to Ogunlana, the bill was transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026, for consideration and approval, with a request that their decisions be communicated to the National Assembly within 30 days.

Although the deadline expired on October 15, the clerk said his office would continue to receive reports from state legislatures until the bill was transmitted for presidential assent.

“Following the receipt and verification of the reports, the office confirms that 28 State Houses of Assembly have approved the Bill,” the statement read.

He explained that the approvals exceeded the constitutionally prescribed threshold of not less than two-thirds of the 36 state legislatures, equivalent to 24 states, as stipulated in Section 9 of the Constitution.

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The clerk also clarified that Section 9 of the Constitution did not expressly prescribe a third reading for a constitutional alteration bill, unlike the procedure applicable to ordinary bills.

“It is pertinent to clarify that Section 9 of the Constitution does not expressly prescribe a third reading for a Constitution Alteration Bill, unlike the procedure applicable to ordinary Bills,” he stated.

He said the necessary administrative processes were being undertaken to facilitate the transmission of the bill to Tinubu in accordance with the Acts Authentication Act, Cap A2 (LFN) 2004.

The development marks a significant step in the long-running debate over the establishment of state police, which proponents argue would enable states to respond more effectively to local security threats, including kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and communal violence.

Nigeria currently operates a centrally controlled police system under the Nigeria Police Force, with state governments lacking independent police commands.

Supporters of decentralised policing have argued that state police would improve intelligence gathering and allow security operations to be tailored to local circumstances. However, concerns have also been raised about possible political abuse, inadequate funding and the protection of human rights under state-controlled police structures.

Ogunlana commended the state legislatures for their cooperation in considering the proposed amendment, describing it as an important step towards strengthening the country’s security architecture and deepening its federal system.

The bill’s transmission to the President would pave the way for the next stage of the constitutional amendment process.

The clerk said his office would continue to provide timely information on developments relating to the amendment.