State Police: Four more Assemblies back bill as support rises to 28 States

Nigeria’s push to establish state police has gained further momentum, with the Kano, Sokoto, Ebonyi and Lagos State Houses of Assembly unanimously endorsing the proposed constitutional amendment, bringing the number of supporting states to 28.

The latest approvals, secured during plenary sessions on Tuesday, mark a significant development in efforts to decentralise policing and strengthen responses to security threats at the grassroots.

The Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, seeks to establish a constitutional framework for a dual policing system comprising the Federal Police Service and State Police Services.

The proposal has attracted growing support amid persistent security challenges, including kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes that have placed pressure on Nigeria’s existing centralised policing structure.

In Kano, the Speaker, Jibril Ismail-Falgore, announced the passage of the bill after lawmakers considered its 26 clauses at the Committee of the Whole House.

The Sokoto Assembly adopted the proposal following a motion by Deputy Majority Leader Mustapha Abdullahi, who explained that the framework would retain the Nigeria Police Force as the federal policing authority while establishing state-level services.

Under the proposed arrangement, the federal police would handle interstate and international crimes, terrorism, cybercrime, border security, policing of the Federal Capital Territory and protection of federal assets.

State police, meanwhile, would be responsible for local law enforcement, public order, community safety and investigations into crimes within their jurisdictions.

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Abdullahi said both services would operate side by side, adding that federal intervention in state policing matters could occur at a governor’s request or where a breakdown of law and order exceeded the state service’s capacity.

The proposal also provides for the appointment of a State Commander of Police by the governor, based on the recommendation of the National Police Council and subject to confirmation by the State House of Assembly.

A State Police Service Commission would oversee appointments, promotions and discipline, while funding arrangements would include allocations from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund.

In Ebonyi, all 24 lawmakers voted in favour of the amendment after deliberations and consultations with constituents.

Speaker Moses Odunwa described the decision as evidence of the assembly’s commitment to security reforms, saying decentralised policing could improve access to criminal intelligence and strengthen community-level responses to crime.

The House Leader, Kingsley Ikoro, also argued that state police would increase security manpower and improve efforts to tackle criminal activities at the grassroots.

In Lagos, lawmakers reconvened early from their recess to consider the proposal.

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa welcomed the development but called for clearer constitutional provisions defining the powers, responsibilities and relationship between federal and state police services.

He also advocated the establishment of parliamentary police to protect legislative institutions and safeguard their independence from interference by state executives.

Obasa cited past incidents involving the closure of legislative buildings and other actions he said had threatened the autonomy of state assemblies.

The latest endorsements follow an announcement by the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill that 24 states had earlier approved the amendment, meeting the two-thirds threshold required under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution for constitutional alteration.

With the four additional approvals, the number has risen to 28 out of Nigeria’s 36 states.

The National Assembly transmitted the bill to state legislatures on September 16, with a 30-day administrative window for consideration.

Meanwhile, the draft National Policing Bill, 2026, and 29 consequential bills intended to establish the operational framework are undergoing legislative drafting review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice.

The proposed reforms are expected to clarify how the two policing tiers would operate, including their funding, oversight and accountability mechanisms.

While the growing legislative support signals progress towards decentralised policing, the effectiveness of the proposed system will depend on clear safeguards against political interference, adequate funding, professional standards and mechanisms to protect citizens’ rights.

The next stage will require the completion of the constitutional amendment process and the development of the legal framework governing the proposed state police services.