Gombe Assembly passes State Police bill

The Gombe State House of Assembly on Thursday passed the 1999 Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, backing the establishment of State Police.

The bill, containing 26 clauses, was transmitted to the House by the National Assembly on October 6, 2026, for concurrence in line with Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Daily Trust reports that the bill seeks to amend the Constitution to provide a legal framework for the creation of a State Police Service distinct from the Federal Police Service.

Our correspondent reports that following its receipt, the House constituted a seven-man Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Sadam Bello Sale to work on the bill.

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Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Speaker of the House, Sadam Bello Sale, said the committee had consulted relevant stakeholders.

Hon. Sale added that the report was supported by a two-thirds majority of members, in accordance with Order 17, Rule 3 of the Gombe State House of Assembly Standing Orders, 2020.

During the plenary on Thursday, the legislators adopted the report of its Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, endorsing recommendations to amend various provisions of the Constitution, including the establishment and operation of state police services distinct from the federal police.

The House considered the report at the Committee of the Whole and passed the bill, joining other state legislatures endorsing state policing as a response to security challenges.

The committee members are; Hon. Sadam Bello Sale, Hon. Musa Buaba, Hon. Shuaibu Adamu Haruna, Hon. Golkos Gaius Gaji, Hon. Abdullahi Abubakar, Hon. Muhammad Tahir and Hon. Adamu Sale Pata, with Barr. Hauwa Abdullahi and Barr. Babadidi J. Mele as Secretaries.

Commenting on the bill, the Speaker of the House, Abubakar Muhammad Luggerewo, said members unanimously supported the proposed legal framework for the establishment of state police, noting that it would strengthen security in the country.

He commended the lawmakers for their commitment and resilience.