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ABUJA – The House of Representatives on Tuesday rescinded its earlier decision on the passed state police bill, paving the way for the consideration of President Bola Tinubu’s sponsored state police bill.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu formally asked the House of Representatives to amend the 1999 constitution to provide constitutional backing for the establishment of state police, in what is regarded as the most significant executive push to restructure Nigeria’s policing architecture since the country’s
return to democratic rule in 1999.
The request is contained in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, transmitted to the House in a letter dated June 15, 2026, and addressed to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
In the correspondence, President Tinubu urged lawmakers to give the proposed constitutional amendment expedited consideration, describing it as a key component of his administration’s broader strategy to reform Nigeria’s security architecture in response to the country’s evolving security challenges.
According to the president, the bill seeks to create “a constitutional pathway for the establishment of State Police Services” to complement the existing federal policing structure and strengthen internal security.
“This bill builds on the significant work already done in this regard by the House of Representatives and incorporates additional safeguards to ensure that the creation of a dual policing structure to address our nation’s evolving national security challenges can be achieved quickly and effectively to the benefit of all Nigerians,” the president wrote.
Tinubu noted that the proposed legislation is central to his administration’s efforts to reposition the country’s security framework and expressed confidence that lawmakers would act swiftly on the proposal.
“The proposed legislation is a critical component of our administration’s strategy to reorganise Nigeria’s security architecture to better protect our citizens, and I am confident that the House of Representatives will act quickly to consider and pass this bill,” he stated.
He also expressed optimism that the National Assembly would expedite legislative action on the proposal, saying he looked forward to its prompt consideration.
The proposed amendment seeks to provide the constitutional foundation for state police services to operate alongside the Nigeria Police Force, thereby creating a dual policing system under which both the Federal Government and state governments would maintain constitutionally recognised police institutions.
The move comes amid sustained calls for the decentralisation of policing as Nigeria grapples with persistent security threats, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes and other violent crimes.
Under the current constitutional arrangement, the Nigeria Police Force remains the country’s sole police institution, with operational control vested exclusively in the Federal Government.
Over the years, state governors, security experts, constitutional lawyers and civil society organisations have argued that the centralised policing model has become overstretched and inadequate to effectively respond to increasingly complex security challenges across the federation.
The demand for state police has gathered momentum in recent years as several states established regional security outfits to complement federal security agencies.
These include the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, in the South-West; Ebube Agu in parts of the South- East, and various vigilante organisations operating across the country.
Supporters of state police maintain that decentralising policing would improve intelligence gathering, deepen community policing and enable faster responses to local security threats.
Opponents, however, have consistently warned that state-controlled police could be vulnerable to political manipulation and abuse by state governments.
The House of Representatives, through its Constitution Review Committee chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has over the years considered several constitutional amendment proposals on state police. Although the proposal has received widespread support during constitutional review consultations held across the six geopolitical zones, it has yet to complete the rigorous constitutional amendment process.
In line with Section 9 of the 1999 constitution, the bill must secure the approval of not less than two-thirds of members of both chambers of the National Assembly and be ratified by at least 24 of the 36 state Houses of Assembly before it can become part of the constitution.
If enacted, the amendment would fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s security governance by providing constitutional backing for a dual policing structure, while setting out the legal framework for the powers, oversight, funding and operations of both federal and state police services.
The proposal is expected to generate robust debate within the National Assembly and among stakeholders as lawmakers examine issues relating to operational control, accountability, funding, inter-agency coordination and safeguards against abuse before concluding work on one of Nigeria’s most consequential constitutional reform initiatives.
