National Assembly Advances Controversial State Police Bill

Nigeria is on the cusp of a significant transformation in its security architecture, with both the Senate and the House of Representatives advancing legislation aimed at establishing state police.

This development marks a major stride in ongoing efforts to decentralize policing powers and address the nation's persistent security challenges.

A bill to establish state police has passed its second reading in the Senate and has been referred by Senate President Godswill Akpabio to the Senate Constitution Review Committee for further scrutiny.

Senator Opeyemi Bamidele leading the debate, described the state police as a crucial reform to strengthen Nigeria’s security.

He argued that locally based officers, familiar with local languages, cultures, and communities, would improve intelligence gathering and help address challenges such as terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, communal conflicts, armed robbery, and cybercrime.

He added that the proposal aligns with efforts to modernize Nigeria’s security system and deepen cooperative federalism.

Supporting the bill, Senator Tahir Monguno said it would also provide a legal framework for regulating vigilante groups, promoting accountability and effectiveness in community security operations.

Concurrently, the House of Representatives also approved a constitutional amendment bill to establish state police across the country.

It was titled “A 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) Bill, 2026,” the legislation was passed during consideration at the Committee of the Whole.

The bill received overwhelming support, with 289 lawmakers voting in its favour, one abstention, and no votes against, as confirmed by a manual voting process.

This proposed amendment aims to create a dual policing system, comprising Federal Police and State Police, as a strategic response to the nation's escalating security issues through a more decentralized framework.

Under the proposed changes, Section 214 of the Constitution will be amended to formally establish both policing formations.

The National Assembly will be granted the authority to prescribe the structure, administration, and powers of the Federal Police, while also setting minimum standards for the establishment and operation of state police services.

A key provision mandates that no state police formation can commence operations without a law passed by its relevant State House of Assembly, certified to comply with the national standards set by the National Assembly.

Furthermore, the Federal Police will maintain policing powers in any state until its state police service becomes fully operational.

To prevent abuse and undue interference, the bill carefully limits federal intervention in state police affairs.

Federal Police intervention would only be permissible in instances of a breakdown of law and order, upon the explicit request of a governor, or if a state police force becomes incapacitated due to administrative, financial, or operational challenges.

The bill proposes major changes to police leadership and operations, and the Inspector-General of Police would be appointed by the President on the advice of the Nigeria Police Council and confirmed by the National Assembly.

The State Commissioners of Police would be appointed by governors, based on the Council’s advice, and confirmed by State Houses of Assembly.

Governors would have the authority to issue lawful directives to State Commissioners of Police on public safety and law enforcement.

However, commissioners could refer directives they consider unlawful or improper to the Nigeria Police Council for a final decision.

The bill also seeks to amend Section 84 of the Constitution by replacing references to the National Police Council and Federal Police Service Commission with the Nigeria Police Council and Police Service Commission.

The concurrent passage of this bill in both legislative chambers marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria's constitutional review process and revives a long-standing national debate regarding the desirability of state policing as a solution to insecurity.

For the amendment to become law, it requires concurrence from the Senate, approval by at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly, and ultimately, presidential assent.

If enacted, this legislation is expected to usher in a multi-layered policing system, designed to enhance responses to banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, and other security threats through greater local participation and decentralized governance of law enforcement.