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State Police: End of Centralised Policing in Sight as NASS Moves to Transmit Amendment For Presidential Assent
State Police: End of Centralised Policing in Sight as NASS Moves to Transmit Amendment For Presidential Assent
The National Assembly has commenced administrative processes to transmit the proposed State Police constitutional amendment bill to President Bola Tinubu for assent after securing approval from 28 State Houses of Assembly.
The 28 approvals exceed the constitutionally prescribed threshold of 24 states, representing two-thirds of the 36 state legislatures required for constitutional alteration.
Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, says the approvals and accompanying Votes and Proceedings have been verified to establish their authenticity.
The proposed amendment seeks to establish State Police Services, allowing individual states to operate their own police formations as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
November 03, () – The end of Nigeria’s centralised policing system is drawing closer as the National Assembly begins the process of transmitting the proposed State Police constitutional amendment bill to President Bola Tinubu for assent, following its approval by 28 State Houses of Assembly.
The development marks a significant stage in the constitutional process towards establishing state police, with the number of approving state legislatures exceeding the two-thirds majority required under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution for an alteration of its provisions.
Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, confirming that his office had received and verified reports of the approvals from 28 state legislatures.
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Ogunlana said the necessary administrative arrangements were underway to facilitate the transmission of the bill to Tinubu for assent in accordance with the Acts Authentication Act, CAP A2 (LEN) 2004.
“In view of the approvals secured from the required number of State Houses of Assembly, the necessary administrative processes are being undertaken to facilitate the transmission of the Bill to His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for assent,” he stated.
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28 States Clear Constitutional Hurdle
Ogunlana explained that the 28 approvals exceeded the constitutionally prescribed minimum of 24 state assemblies, representing two-thirds of the 36 states of the federation.
According to the Clerk, the proposed constitutional amendment was transmitted to all 36 State Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026, for consideration and approval.
The state legislatures were initially requested to communicate their decisions to the National Assembly within 30 days, with the deadline expiring on October 15, 2026.
However, Ogunlana clarified that the expiration of the deadline would not prevent his office from receiving further reports from state assemblies before the bill was transmitted for presidential assent.
“The stipulated period elapsed on 15 October 2026, but my Office shall continue to accept reports from the State Houses of Assembly until the bill is transmitted for assent,” he said.
He disclosed that the Office of the Clerk had also conducted administrative verification of the reports and accompanying Votes and Proceedings to establish their authenticity and confirm that they accurately reflected the decisions of the respective state legislatures.
“The Office has also undertaken the necessary administrative verification of the reports and accompanying Votes and Proceedings to establish their authenticity and ensure that the records accurately reflect the decisions taken by the respective State Houses of Assembly,” he added.
Ogunlana also clarified the legislative procedure for constitutional alteration bills, explaining that Section 9 of the Constitution does not expressly prescribe a Third Reading for such bills, unlike the procedure applicable to ordinary legislation.
“It is pertinent to clarify that Section 9 of the Constitution does not expressly prescribe a Third Reading for a Constitution Alteration Bill, unlike the procedure applicable to ordinary Bills,” he stated.
Push For Decentralised Policing
The proposed amendment seeks to alter the 1999 Constitution to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and related matters, creating the constitutional framework for individual states to establish and operate their own police formations within their jurisdictions.
Nigeria currently operates a centralised policing system through the Nigeria Police Force, with policing authority largely vested in the Federal Government.
The agitation for state police has intensified over the years amid persistent security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes across the country.
Several governors, political leaders and security stakeholders have advocated decentralisation of the police system, arguing that state-controlled police formations would strengthen local responses to security threats and complement the operations of federal security agencies.
The proposed amendment has consequently featured prominently in wider discussions on constitutional reforms, restructuring and the need to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
The National Assembly, through Ogunlana, acknowledged the cooperation of the state legislatures in considering the proposed amendment, describing their responses as an important step towards strengthening the country’s security framework and deepening federalism.
“The National Assembly appreciates the cooperation and timely response of the State Houses of Assembly in the consideration of this important constitutional amendment, which represents a significant step in the ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and deepen the country’s federal system,” he said.
He assured Nigerians that the Office of the Clerk would continue to provide timely and accurate information on developments relating to the constitutional amendment process.
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