State Policing Bill Gains Momentum: Multiple Assemblies Approve Historic Measure

Nigeria is actively pursuing a significant restructuring of its security architecture, with a growing number of state Houses of Assembly approving a constitutional amendment bill to establish state police. This move aims to decentralize policing responsibilities and enhance the nation's capacity to address persistent security challenges such as kidnapping, banditry, communal violence, and farmer-herder conflicts.

The proposed legislation, known as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, seeks to amend Sections 214, 215, and 216 of the Constitution, and introduce a new Section 317A. These amendments would provide the legal framework for establishing state police services alongside the existing federal police system, as well as make consequential amendments to provisions governing police service commissions and policing administration at both federal and state levels.

So far, 13 state assemblies have officially endorsed the proposed amendment. These include Taraba, Nasarawa, Plateau, Ogun, Delta, Cross River, Enugu, Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Zamfara, Kwara, and Adamawa. The Taraba State House of Assembly, for instance, unanimously approved the bill, with Speaker John Bonzena highlighting its potential to tackle criminal activities, create employment, and improve inter-agency collaboration. Similarly, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly approved all 26 clauses of the bill, joining 11 other state legislatures at the time, with Speaker Danladi Jatau directing communication to the National Assembly.

In Plateau State, lawmakers adopted the recommendations of an ad hoc committee, with Chairman Theodore Maiyaki emphasizing the reform's role in addressing security challenges, manpower shortages, and improving community-level policing. Speaker Naanlong Daniel affirmed that state police could complement the Nigeria Police Force and strengthen security coordination. Other notable approvals came from Ogun, where lawmakers adopted an ad hoc committee's report; Cross River, where all 22 members present voted in favor, with Speaker Elvert Ayambem advocating for implementation guided by the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights; and Delta and Enugu, where unanimous support was also recorded.

Proponents of state police argue that decentralizing law enforcement would bring policing closer to communities, improve intelligence gathering, and enable quicker, more effective responses to local security threats. They believe this approach would address the limitations of a centralized policing structure in a diverse country like Nigeria. Taraba's Speaker, John Bonzena, further noted that it would strengthen security institutions' capacity and improve the protection of lives and property.

However, the proposal is not without its critics, who have raised significant concerns. These include the potential for state governors to abuse their control over state police to intimidate political opponents, journalists, or suppress dissent. Questions also persist regarding critical operational aspects such as funding mechanisms, recruitment processes, ensuring operational independence, protecting human rights, and establishing robust accountability frameworks.

The legislative journey for this reform is complex. The Senate passed the amendment on June 24, and the House of Representatives followed on July 23, before transmitting it to the state assemblies on September 16, 2026. Under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, a constitutional amendment requires the support of at least two-thirds of Nigeria's 36 state Houses of Assembly, which translates to 24 states. With 13 approvals to date, the amendment still requires endorsement from another 11 states to meet this constitutional threshold.

Concurrently, a Presidential Working Group on State Police, chaired by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, has been active at the federal level. This group has completed a draft National Policing Bill along with 29 consequential amendment bills, submitting them to the Federal Ministry of Justice for review and validation. These drafts are expected to be returned to the working group by October 30 for final consideration before presentation to President Bola Tinubu and subsequent transmission to the National Assembly. This dual-track approach, involving both constitutional amendments at the state level and new legislative frameworks at the federal level, underscores the comprehensive nature of the proposed security sector reform.