13 states passed policing bills, 11 states have yet to respond

Thirteen states of the federation have so far approved the proposal for the creation of a state police structure in the country, leaving final approval open and waiting for approval from 11 more states to become a reality.

Four states on Wednesday passed state police bills, which must be approved by two-thirds or 24 state Houses of Assembly for the bills to pass.

The Ekiti State House of Assembly has passed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bill 1999 (Sixth Amendment), 2026, which seeks to provide for the establishment of a State Police in Nigeria.

The bill underwent its second and third discussions at the plenary session in Ado Ekiti, with 21 members present in support of the bill’s passage, signaling the Assembly’s support for the proposed constitutional framework for police decentralization.

Following the petition, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Adeoye Aribasoye, directed the Clerk of the House of Representatives to submit the document to the National Assembly, along with the observations made by the state legislatures.

Additionally, the Benue State House of Representatives also passed a similar bill seeking to amend the Nigerian Constitution to allow for the creation of a state police force, and added their voice to ongoing efforts to decentralize the police force and address the country’s security challenges.

The bill was approved in Tuesday’s plenary session chaired by Speaker, Alfred Emberga, following discussions led by House Majority Leader, Peter Ipusu.

The Imo State House of Assembly yesterday also approved the proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution to provide for the establishment of the state police service and related matters.

The resolution follows a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Kanayo Onyemaechi, representing Owerri West, in the plenary session.

Regarding the motion, Onyemaechi said the National Assembly had submitted the bill to the state legislatures for consideration and approval, in line with the provisions of the constitution.

Following this, the Anambra State House of Assembly also passed a resolution to pave the way for the establishment of the state police.

The bill underwent its first, second and third discussions at the plenary session in Awka, marking a step towards establishing a constitutional framework for the decentralization of policing in the country.

The executive bill, originating from the Presidency, seeks to provide a legal basis for countries to establish their own police services, subject to constitutional provisions and an Act of the National Assembly that establishes minimum national policing standards.

Under the proposed framework, the Nigeria Police will remain the default police institution in a state until the state’s police service is legally established and certified to operate.

The bill also maintains the Federal Government’s policing responsibilities in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, while providing safeguards for civilian oversight, human rights protection, national policing standards, independent police services commission, intergovernmental cooperation, criminal information systems and firearms control.

At a plenary session presided over by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Somtochukwu Udeze, MPs approved the bill through a voice vote.