Representatives pass a bill amending the Constitution to create a state police force

The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a constitutional amendment establishing the structure of the state police force in the country.

The bill, entitled ‘Bill for an Act to Amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for the Establishment of a State Police Service and Related Matters (HB.2797)’, was considered by the Committee of the Whole before securing the constitutionally required two-thirds majority.

President Bola Tinubu has submitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Amendment) (State Police) Bill, 2026, to the House of Representatives, seeking constitutional approval for the establishment of state police services across the country.

The President said the proposed law aims to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal framework for the establishment of state police as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.

While presenting the committee report before the House of Representatives, the Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the House Constitutional Review Committee, Benjamin Kalu, described the proposals as important reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.

He commended President Tinubu for forwarding the Executive Bill to the National Assembly, saying the move demonstrated effective collaboration between the executive and legislative branches.

According to Kalu, the constitutional amendments aim to bring the police closer to the people, improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community policing, improve coordination between security agencies and empower the government to respond more effectively to evolving security challenges.

“This bill is not just about creating another police agency. It is about bringing policing closer to communities, strengthening intelligence gathering, improving community policing, improving coordination between security agencies and empowering government to respond more effectively to the complex and evolving security challenges facing our country,” he said.

He acknowledged that the proposals may not satisfy all stakeholders, but he stressed that constitutional reform is a gradual process.

Kalu explained that the amendment only provides a constitutional basis for the state police, while detailed implementation issues, including recruitment, training, operational standards, funding, accountability and intergovernmental coordination, will be addressed through subsequent legislation.

“We must not let the pursuit of perfection become the enemy of meaningful progress,” he said, urging lawmakers to support what he described as historic reforms.

During consideration of the bill, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read the long title of the bill before voting.

Before the vote, Abbas announced that 311 members supported the bill, consisting of 211 APC members, 65 MPs from other political parties who were physically present and 35 members participating virtually via the DPR’s electronic platform.

He explained that the Constitution requires the support of at least two-thirds of the DPR members—240 votes—for constitutional amendments to be passed.