24 state assemblies approve state police amendment — Gbajabiamila

File: Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila

The proposed constitutional amendment to establish a dual policing system in Nigeria has secured approval from 24 State Houses of Assembly, meeting the two-thirds threshold required for constitutional alteration.

The Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, October 23, 2026.

The statement said the approval of 24 of the 36 state assemblies met the constitutional requirement for the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, which provides for a dual policing system.

The Working Group commended the state assemblies for their action and the National Assembly for passing the amendment in both chambers.

“In line with Section 9 of the Constitution, the amendment can now be returned to the National Assembly for transmission to Mr President for assent,” the statement read.

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The proposed amendment is expected to provide constitutional backing for the policing framework contained in the draft National Policing Bill, 2026, prepared by the Presidential Working Group.

The group said the draft bills were undergoing legislative drafting review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice and were expected to be returned on or before Friday, October 30, 2026.

It added that the group would give the bills final consideration before presenting them to President Bola Tinubu.

The Working Group urged stakeholders to support what it described as a smooth transition to a dual policing system aimed at making Nigerians safer.

Tosin Oyediran is a journalist with Punch Newspapers, bringing over eight years of newsroom experience to his coverage of politics, health, advocacy, sports, and entertainment. Known for sharp interviews and human-centered reporting, his work focuses on public accountability, civic issues, and the stories shaping everyday lives.

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