The National Assembly has confirmed that 28 State Houses of Assembly have approved a constitutional amendment bill to establish state police services, surpassing the required threshold and clearing the path for its transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Clerk to the National Assembly Kamoru Ogunlana disclosed the development in a statement on Tuesday. He said the Office of the Clerk had received and verified reports from the 28 state legislatures, together with their accompanying votes and proceedings, confirming approval of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill.
The bill seeks to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and related matters. It was transmitted to all 36 State Houses of Assembly on 16 September 2026 for consideration. State legislatures were initially asked to communicate their decisions within 30 days, a period that ended on 15 October. Ogunlana noted that his office would continue to accept further reports until the bill is transmitted for presidential assent.
The 28 approvals exceed the constitutional minimum of not less than two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly equivalent to 24 states  required under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution. Ogunlana emphasised that the National Assembly had undertaken administrative verification to establish the authenticity of the reports and ensure they accurately reflected the decisions of the respective legislatures.
He also clarified that Section 9 does not expressly prescribe a third reading for a Constitution Alteration Bill, unlike the procedure that applies to ordinary legislation. With the threshold met, the National Assembly is undertaking the necessary administrative processes to transmit the bill to the President under the Acts Authentication Act.
The amendment forms part of efforts to move Nigeria from a single, centrally controlled Nigeria Police Force towards a dual structure comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services. Under the proposal, states would be empowered to establish their own police services through state legislation, subject to national minimum standards set by the National Assembly. Federal police would retain exclusive jurisdiction over areas such as counter-terrorism, border security, organised crime and national security matters.
The bill was passed by the Senate on 24 June 2026 and by the House of Representatives on 23 July 2026 before being sent to the states. Earlier informal tallies had varied, with some officials previously citing figures of 24 or higher. The Clerk’s verified count of 28 provides the official position that allows the process to advance.
Supporters of the reform argue that decentralised policing would improve responses to local security threats that have strained the capacity of the federal force for years. Critics have long expressed concerns about potential political abuse by state governors and the need for robust safeguards, issues the accompanying National Policing Bill is expected to address once the constitutional foundation is in place.
The confirmation marks a significant procedural milestone. Once the President assents, states will still need to pass their own enabling laws and meet certification requirements before any state police service can become operational. The National Assembly has indicated that the transmission process is now under way.