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Senate Passes State Police Constitutional Amendment Bill, Advances Major Security Reform
Senate Passes State Police Constitutional Amendment Bill, Advances Major Security Reform
The Nigerian Senate has passed the Constitutional Amendment Bill seeking the establishment of State Police, a landmark development widely regarded as a significant step towards decentralising the nation’s policing system and strengthening grassroots security architecture.
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The legislation, which forms part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process, empowers state governors to appoint Commissioners of Police, subject to confirmation by their respective State Houses of Assembly. It also contains provisions designed to prevent abuse of the new policing structure, including safeguards against the use of state police to harass, intimidate, or target individuals and groups for criticising government policies or actions.
The bill, however, must still secure the approval of at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly before it can be incorporated into the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The development emerged during an emergency plenary session of the Senate, where lawmakers concluded legislative consideration and passed the Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to Provide for the Establishment of State Police and for Related Matters (Sixth Alteration), 2026.
The passage followed the presentation and unanimous adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review. During deliberations, lawmakers stressed the need for broad stakeholder engagement, noting that the proposed amendment seeks to establish a dual policing structure that would allow both federal and state police formations to operate within the federation.
With the Senate and the House of Representatives expected to complete legislative action on the proposal, the bill will subsequently be transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for concurrence as required by the Constitution.
The Senate described the passage of the bill as a demonstration of its commitment to reforming Nigeria’s security framework and creating a more responsive policing system capable of addressing the country’s diverse security challenges.
In another significant legislative action, the upper chamber also passed for third reading the Police Trust Fund Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026, aimed at strengthening funding mechanisms for the nation’s police force.
Earlier in the day, Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, administered the Oath of Office and Allegiance to four newly elected senators following recent by-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The lawmakers sworn in were Senator Halilu Danladi Envulu-Anza representing Nasarawa North Senatorial District on the platform of the APC, Senator Ikeje Asogwa representing Enugu North Senatorial District on the APC ticket, Senator Dayo Faduyile representing Ondo South Senatorial District under the APC, and Senator Olaka Nwogu representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District on the platform of the PDP.
The senators emerged victorious in the by-elections conducted to fill vacancies in the affected senatorial districts, officially joining the 10th Senate as legislative activities continue on critical national issues, including constitutional and security reforms.
