JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
By Victor Osula, Abuja
Ahead of the October 30 deadline to give their assent, 24 state Houses of Assembly approved the amendment establishing a dual policing system, paving the way for its return to the National Assembly and eventual transmission to President Bola Tinubu for approval.
The breakthrough could trigger the most major restructuring of Nigeria’s police architecture since the return to democratic rule in 1999, potentially ending decades of exclusive federal control over conventional policing.
The Presidential Working Group on the National Police Bill confirmed the development on Friday, saying the Constitution (Sixth Amendment) Bill, 2026, has secured the support of two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 state Houses of Assembly, as required by the Constitution.
The approving states are Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Kebbi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
A subsequent independent count included Gombe, indicating that the number of states supporting the amendment may have already risen to 25, one above the constitutional minimum.
The distinction is important: 24 is the official figure announced by the Presidential Working Group that has exceeded the constitutional threshold, while 25 represents the latest, independently reported count of individual states’ approvals.
The President’s Chief of Staff and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Police Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the development marked an important milestone in the government’s efforts to restructure the police.
“The Presidential Working Group on the National Police Bill notes with satisfaction that the Constitution (Sixth Amendment) Bill, 2026, which provides for a dual system of policing, has been passed by 24 state Houses of Assembly, meeting the constitutional threshold of two-thirds of the 36 states,” Gbajabiamila said.
The Working Group commended the State Houses of Assembly for what it described as decisive action on a reform of national importance and also commended the National Assembly for having previously passed the amendment in both Houses.
Under Article 9 of the Constitution, amendments requiring state consent must receive the support of at least two-thirds of the 36 Houses of the State Assembly. That translates to 24 states.
Once that threshold is crossed, the amendment can return to the National Assembly for completion of the constitutional process before being forwarded to President Tinubu for approval.
“In line with Article 9 of the Constitution, the amendment can now be referred to the National Assembly to be forwarded to Mr. President for assent,” the working group said.
The breakthrough followed a rapid increase in approvals in the state Houses of Assembly.
As of the start of the week, 17 states had been identified as having passed the amendment, leaving seven more needed to meet the constitutional threshold.
Subsequent approvals from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Imo, Kaduna, Kebbi and Yobe brought the number to the crucial 24.
These states joined Adamawa, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba and Zamfara, who had earlier endorsed the proposal. A later compilation added Gombe, potentially bringing the count to 25.
The remaining 11 states not included in the latest count are Bauchi, Borno, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Lagos, Niger, Ondo and Sokoto.
Their eventual decisions could broaden support for the reform, but they are no longer required to meet the two-thirds minimum threshold.
At the heart of the constitutional change is a fundamental restructuring of Nigeria’s police system.
The amendment provides constitutional support for a dual policing architecture comprising federal and state police services, replacing the current arrangement under which conventional policing is centrally controlled through the Nigeria Police Force.
Under the proposed framework, states would be empowered to establish their own police services in accordance with constitutional requirements and enabling legislation.
The federal police institution will continue to exercise the responsibilities assigned to it by the Constitution and federal law.
A state police service, however, would not automatically emerge in every state immediately upon presidential consent.
States intending to establish their own police services would be required to respect the constitutional and statutory framework governing their creation and functioning.
The proposed framework provides minimum national policing standards and safeguards covering civilian oversight, human rights, independent police service commissions, intergovernmental cooperation, criminal intelligence sharing and firearms control.
The safeguards are intended, among other things, to address long-standing fears that the State Police could become a tool of political intimidation in the hands of governors and other powerful state actors.
The constitutional amendment is being pursued alongside the proposed National Police Bill, 2026, which is expected to provide the detailed legal and operational framework for the new policing architecture.
The Presidential Working Group said the successful state-level approvals now provide constitutional support for the system contemplated in the bill.
“The approval provides constitutional support to the policing framework that the Working Group’s National Police Bill 2026 is designed to implement,” Gbajabiamila said.
The draft laws are currently undergoing legislative drafting review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice.
According to the working group, the review is expected to be completed by Friday 30 October 2026.
The documents will then return to the Working Group for final examination before being presented to President Tinubu.
The working group urged stakeholders to support a smooth transition to the proposed dual policing system, saying the ultimate goal is to make Nigerians safer.
Post views:
295
