National Assembly to Send State Police Bill to Tinubu

The National Assembly is ready to send the State Police Bill to President Bola Tinubu for his approval. This comes after they confirmed that 28 state Houses of Assembly have given their support for the bill.

Kamoru Ogunlana, the Clerk to the National Assembly, shared this information in a statement on Tuesday. He noted that the approvals from the state legislatures surpassed the required 24 states set by the constitution.

He stated, "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."

Ogunlana added, "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 bill aims to change the 1999 Constitution to create State Police Services, amid ongoing discussions about a better policing system to tackle Nigeria’s security issues.

According to Ogunlana, the National Assembly sent the bill to the 36 State Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026. They asked the states to respond within 30 days.

The deadline passed on October 15, but Ogunlana mentioned that his office would still accept reports from the state legislatures until the bill is sent for the President's approval.

"Following the receipt and verification of the reports, the Office confirms that 28 State Houses of Assembly have approved the Bill," his statement said.

He explained that these approvals exceeded the required two-thirds of the 36 state legislatures, which is 24 states, as stated in Section 9 of the Constitution. Ogunlana also pointed out that his office verified the reports to ensure they accurately reflected the decisions of each state legislature.

This verification process is an important step before sending the bill to the President for approval. The Clerk clarified that Section 9 of the Constitution does not require a third reading for a bill that changes the Constitution, unlike normal bills.

He said, "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 confirmed that steps are being taken to send the bill to Tinubu as per the Acts Authentication Act, Cap A2 (LFN) 2004.

This move is a big step in the long debate about creating state police. Supporters believe state police would help states deal better with local security issues like kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and communal violence.

Currently, Nigeria has a centralized police system under the Nigeria Police Force. State governments do not have independent police forces. Supporters of state police argue it would enhance intelligence gathering and allow security responses to fit local needs. However, there are worries about political misuse, lack of funds, and protecting human rights with state-run police.

Ogunlana praised the state legislatures for their support in considering the amendment. He said this is a significant step towards improving the country's security system and strengthening federalism.

Sending the bill to the President will move the constitutional amendment process forward. The Clerk assured that his office would keep providing updates on this matter.