Breaking: Reps pass state police bill as constitution amendment gains momentum
By Gift Chapi Odekina, Abuja
In a major step toward reforming Nigeria’s security structure, the House of Representatives on Thursday approved a constitutional amendment bill seeking the establishment of state police across the country, advancing efforts to decentralise law enforcement and improve internal security.
The legislation, 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,” received overwhelming support during deliberations at the Committee of the Whole, chaired by Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
The bill was considered after the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, presented the committee’s report and urged lawmakers to back the proposal. He emphasized that a decentralised policing system would better equip the nation to tackle increasing security threats.
Voting was conducted through a show of hands, with 289 legislators supporting the measure, one member abstaining, and no votes recorded against it, demonstrating broad consensus across party lines.
The proposed amendment aims to transform Nigeria’s policing framework by creating separate Federal and State Police structures.
A central provision of the bill seeks to amend Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution to formally recognize both the Federal Police and State Police. It grants the National Assembly authority to determine the organisation, administration, powers and operational framework of the Federal Police while also setting minimum standards for the establishment and functioning of state police agencies.
Under the proposal, a state police service can only begin operations after the relevant State House of Assembly enacts a law establishing it and the force is certified as meeting national standards outlined by the National Assembly.
The bill further states that until a state police service becomes operational, the Federal Police will continue to carry out policing responsibilities within the affected state.
To safeguard the independence of state police formations, the amendment limits circumstances under which the Federal Police may intervene in state security matters. Such intervention would only be permitted in cases of a complete breakdown of law and order, at the request of a state governor, or where a state police service becomes unable to function effectively due to financial, administrative or operational difficulties.
The legislation also proposes adjustments to the police leadership and command structure.
According to the amendment to Section 215 of the Constitution, the Inspector-General of Police would be appointed by the President based on the recommendation of the Nigeria Police Council from among serving Federal Police officers, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly.
Likewise, State Commissioners of Police would be appointed by governors on the advice of the Nigeria Police Council from serving officers of the State Police, with confirmation required from the respective State Houses of Assembly.
Governors would be empowered to issue lawful directives to State Commissioners of Police concerning public safety and law enforcement. However, where a commissioner believes such directives conflict with the law or established policing standards, the issue may be referred to the Nigeria Police Council, whose decision would be binding.
The amendment also seeks to revise Section 84 of the Constitution by replacing references to the “National Police Council and the Federal Police Service Commission” with the “Nigeria Police Council and the Police Service Commission.”
The House’s approval of the bill represents one of the most significant security reform efforts since Nigeria’s return to democratic governance in 1999. The proposal is expected to reignite national discussions on funding, oversight, operational independence and mechanisms to prevent abuse of state-controlled police forces.
Having secured passage in the House of Representatives, the bill will now move to the Senate for consideration. If approved, it must also receive support from at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly and obtain presidential assent before becoming part of the Constitution.
If eventually signed into law, the amendment would introduce a multi-tier policing system and potentially reshape Nigeria’s strategy for addressing insecurity, including banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes through a more community-based and localised security framework.