Nigeria’s Senate has defended its approval of a constitutional amendment that would establish state police forces, describing the proposal as a response to the country’s worsening security challenges rather than a politically motivated initiative.
The proposed Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026 cleared the Senate on June 24, following its passage by the House of Representatives on June 11. The legislation now moves to Nigeria’s 36 state legislatures, where it must secure approval from at least 24 state assemblies before it can be presented to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
If ratified, the amendment would mark one of Nigeria’s most significant constitutional reforms since the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999 by replacing the current centralized policing structure with a dual federal-state policing system.
Senate Says Reform Responds to Growing Insecurity
In a statement issued on Sunday, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the legislation was driven by national security concerns rather than partisan politics.
“The State Police Bill is a child of necessity, not political expediency,” Bamidele said, arguing that the proposal emerged from years of constitutional review and extensive consultations with security agencies, state governments and other stakeholders.
According to the Senate, public hearings conducted across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones in 2025 showed broad support for decentralizing policing as insecurity continued to affect many parts of the country.
Bamidele said the National Assembly consulted the Presidency, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures and the leadership of the Nigeria Police during the drafting process.
Broad Legislative Support
The Senate Leader said the bill received bipartisan backing during its consideration in the National Assembly.
According to him, 84 of the Senate’s 109 members, representing about 77% of the chamber, voted in favour of the constitutional amendment after clause-by-clause deliberation.
He added that lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties supported the legislation, arguing that national security should transcend political differences.
How the State Police System Would Work
The proposed constitutional amendment would establish a dual policing framework comprising a Federal Police Service and separate State Police Services.
Under the proposal, the Federal Police would retain responsibility for national security matters, including terrorism, cybercrime, border security and interstate criminal offences.
State Police Services would be responsible for community policing, public safety and law enforcement within their respective states.
The legislation also introduces several oversight mechanisms intended to prevent political interference.
State governors would appoint Commissioners of Police, subject to confirmation by their State Houses of Assembly, while any removal would require a recommendation from the National Police Council and approval by a two-thirds majority of the relevant state legislature.
Each state would also establish an independent State Police Service Commission responsible for recruitment, promotions and disciplinary matters.
In addition, no state police service would begin operations until it had been certified by the National Assembly as meeting nationally prescribed operational standards.
Why the Reform Matters
Nigeria has maintained a centralized policing system since independence, with the Nigeria Police Force operating under federal authority despite growing calls for decentralization.
Supporters argue that state police could improve intelligence gathering, enhance community policing and enable faster responses to local security threats, including banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and other crimes that vary across Nigeria’s diverse regions.
They also contend that decentralizing law enforcement would allow state governments to play a more direct role in addressing security challenges within their jurisdictions.
However, critics have raised concerns that state police forces could be vulnerable to political influence if adequate safeguards are not effectively implemented.
The constitutional amendment seeks to address those concerns by establishing independent oversight institutions and shared federal-state accountability mechanisms.
Next Stage of the Constitutional Process
Although the National Assembly has approved the amendment, the proposal has not yet become law.
Under Nigeria’s constitutional amendment process, the bill must now be ratified by at least 24 of the country’s 36 State Houses of Assembly before it can be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for presidential assent.
The outcome of the state-level deliberations will determine whether Nigeria adopts one of its most far-reaching security governance reforms in decades.
For investors and businesses, the debate is being closely watched because improvements in internal security are widely regarded as essential for reducing operating risks, protecting infrastructure, supporting agricultural production and strengthening Nigeria’s overall investment climate. If approved, the reform could reshape the country’s security architecture by giving state governments greater responsibility for maintaining law and order while preserving the Federal Government’s authority over national security and cross-border threats
