State Police: NASS set to transmit bill to President Tinubu for assent

The National Assembly has received and verified reports from 28 State Houses of Assembly approving the proposed constitutional amendment for the establishment of state police, clearing the way for the transmission of the bill to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

The 28 approvals exceed the constitutional requirement of 24 states, representing two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, for an alteration of the 1999 Constitution to be effected.

Disclosing this in a statement on Tuesday, November 3, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, said his office had completed the administrative verification of the reports and accompanying Votes and Proceedings submitted by the state legislatures.

According to him, the verification was undertaken to establish the authenticity of the documents and ensure that they accurately reflected the decisions taken by the respective assemblies.

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

“This represents more than the constitutionally prescribed threshold of not less than two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, equivalent to 24 States, as required under Section 9 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.”

The state police bill, formally known as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, was passed by the Senate on June 24, 2026, and subsequently by the House of Representatives on July 23, 2026, before being transmitted to the 36 state assemblies for concurrence.

Ogunlana recalled that the bill was transmitted to the state legislatures on September 16, 2026, for consideration and approval, with a request that they communicate their decisions to the National Assembly within 30 days.

The stipulated period elapsed on October 15, but Ogunlana said his office would continue to receive reports from the state assemblies until the bill was transmitted for presidential assent.

“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 said.

On the next stage of the process, the Clerk 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, (LFN) 2004.”

The establishment of state police is part of ongoing efforts to decentralise Nigeria’s policing system and strengthen the country’s response to security challenges.

It is expected to provide the legal framework for the establishment of state police services alongside the existing federal police structure.

Ogunlana said the National Assembly appreciated the cooperation of the state legislatures in the consideration of the amendment, describing their approvals as a significant step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and deepening its federal system.

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