TINUBU RECEIVES STATE POLICE BILL AS 30 STATES APPROVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

Nigeria Politics & Security | November 5, 2026

Nigeria has moved closer to establishing state police after the National Assembly transmitted the proposed constitutional amendment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for presidential assent, following approval by 30 of the country's 36 State Houses of Assembly.

The development represents a significant milestone in the country's long-running debate over decentralizing its policing system, amid persistent challenges involving kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, communal violence and other security threats.

According to reports from the National Assembly, the 30 state approvals exceed the constitutional requirement of 24 states, representing two-thirds of the 36 state legislatures.

How the Bill Reached President Tinubu

The transmission followed the completion of the National Assembly's legislative process and the subsequent endorsement of the proposed amendment by state legislatures.

The development was announced during Wednesday's plenary sitting, when Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau read a notice from the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana.

The notice indicated that 29 state assemblies had formally communicated their approvals as of November 3. Subsequently, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele announced that 30 state assemblies had approved the amendment and read out their names.

The 30 states are:

1. Adamawa
2. Akwa Ibom
3. Anambra
4. Bauchi
5. Bayelsa
6. Borno
7. Delta
8. Ebonyi
9. Edo
10. Ekiti
11. Enugu
12. Gombe
13. Imo
14. Jigawa
15. Kaduna
16. Katsina
17. Kebbi
18. Kogi
19. Kwara
20. Lagos
21. Nasarawa
22. Ogun
23. Ondo
24. Osun
25. Plateau
26. Rivers
27. Sokoto
28. Taraba
29. Yobe
30. Zamfara

The constitutional threshold for the amendment is 24 state assemblies. Therefore, the reported 30 approvals exceed the minimum requirement by six states.

What Does the Proposed State Police System Mean?

Under Nigeria's existing policing arrangement, the Nigeria Police Force operates primarily under federal control.

The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to introduce a dual policing structure, allowing individual states to establish and manage their own police services alongside the federal police.

If implemented, the arrangement would give state governments a constitutional framework to develop policing structures that respond to security challenges within their respective territories.

Supporters of the proposal argue that decentralised policing could deliver several benefits:

• • Faster security responses: State-based police units could respond more directly to emergencies and crimes within their jurisdictions.
  • Improved intelligence gathering: Officers familiar with local communities, languages and terrain could strengthen intelligence operations.
  • Better community policing: Residents could potentially develop stronger working relationships with security personnel.
  • Additional security capacity: State police could complement the existing federal police structure.
  • More local accountability: State institutions could have a greater role in supervising policing activities.

The proposal is intended to retain federal policing responsibilities while creating additional security structures at state level.

Concerns Over Possible Abuse and Political Interference

Despite the support for decentralized policing, the proposal has also generated important questions about accountability, political independence and human rights.

One major concern is whether state governors could misuse their influence over local police commands.

Critics have warned that poorly regulated state police structures could potentially be deployed against political opponents, journalists, protesters, minority communities or individuals critical of state governments.

Other concerns include:

• • Political interference in police investigations.
  • Inadequate funding and equipment.
  • Differences in training and operational standards between states.
  • Human rights violations and unlawful arrests.
  • Conflicts between federal and state police commands.
  • Weak independent oversight mechanisms.

These concerns make the establishment of clear constitutional safeguards, professional standards, transparent recruitment procedures and independent accountability institutions particularly important.

What Happens Next?

The transmission of the bill marks another stage in the proposed constitutional reform.

However, Nigerians should distinguish between the approval of a constitutional amendment and the actual commencement of state police operations.

The remaining legal and administrative requirements must be completed, including the applicable constitutional authentication and assent process reported by the National Assembly.

The Senate had also given the six outstanding state assemblies until November 15, 2026, to communicate their positions.

Consequently, the transmission of the proposal should not be interpreted as meaning that state police officers are already authorized to commence operations across the country.

Why This Development Matters to Nigeria

Nigeria's security challenges vary considerably from one region to another. While some states face banditry and mass kidnappings, others contend with terrorism, communal conflicts, organized criminal networks, oil theft and violent attacks on rural communities.

A decentralized policing structure could provide an opportunity to develop security responses around these different local realities.

However, the success of the proposed reform will depend not simply on creating additional police commands but on how they are funded, supervised and protected from political interference.

The experience of federal policing also demonstrates that increasing the number of security personnel alone does not automatically guarantee public safety. Intelligence, professionalism, accountability and effective prosecution remain essential.

Note

The transmission of the State Police Bill to President Tinubu marks an important development in Nigeria's constitutional and security reform debate.

For years, the question of whether individual states should control their own police forces has remained controversial.

With the reported approval of 30 state legislatures, the proposal has moved beyond the initial legislative debate and entered another critical stage.

Nevertheless, the bigger question is whether Nigeria can establish a decentralized policing system that protects citizens equally, operates professionally and remains independent of political manipulation.

For millions of Nigerians living with insecurity, the ultimate measure of this reform will not be the number of states that approve it, but whether it delivers safer communities and stronger protection of lives and property.

Source: https://leadership.ng/tinubu-receives-state-police-bill-after-30-states-approval/