No need for conference committee, Senate, House passed identical versions – Reps’ Spokesman
By JAMES KWEN and SAMSON ELIJAH, Abuja
With the passage of the State Police Bill by both chambers of the National Assembly – the Senate and the House of Representatives – attention has shifted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly, which must approve the constitutional amendment to complete the process.
The bill is being finalised for transmission to the state legislatures in line with the constitutional amendment procedure.
As a constitutional amendment bill, it must be approved by resolutions of at least two-thirds (at least 24) of the State Houses of Assembly before it can become law.
Section 9 of the Constitution provides that an amendment can be enacted only after securing the support of two-thirds of the members of each chamber of the National Assembly – 73 senators and 240 members of the House of Representatives – and the approval of at least 24 state assemblies.
The Senate passed the executive bill on 24 June 2026 after considering the report of the Committee on the Review of the Constitution, chaired by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.
The clauses were considered at the Committee of the Whole before Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the bill’s passage following a manual vote in which more than two-thirds of senators voted in support.
A total of 87 senators were present for the vote, exceeding the constitutional requirement. The bill seeks to establish a state police force to operate alongside the existing Federal Police Service.
Appointment and Control of State Police
Clause 17 provides that the Inspector-General of Police shall head the Federal Police Service. At the same time, each State Police Service shall be led by a Commissioner of Police appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State House of Assembly.
Under Section 17(6), a governor may issue lawful written directives of a general policy nature to the state Commissioner of Police on matters relating to public safety and public order.
To guard against political abuse, Section 17(7) prohibits a state Commissioner of Police from arresting, detaining, investigating, or using force against any person, political party, or group for criticising the government, except as authorised by law.
Section 17(8) empowers the Inspector-General of Police or a state Commissioner of Police to seek a review by the appropriate Police Service Commission if a directive is deemed unlawful or inconsistent with national minimum standards, while preserving the courts’ jurisdiction.
Section 17(10) provides that a state Commissioner of Police may be suspended or removed only for a stated cause, following due process, on the recommendation of the National Police Council and with the approval of at least two-thirds of the State House of Assembly.
Existing Security Outfits
The bill clarifies the status of existing regional and community security organisations.
Section 25(5) provides that no existing local security outfit shall automatically become a State Police Service or exercise police powers. It also prohibits such outfits from bearing firearms unless authorised under the Constitution and an Act of the National Assembly.
