After 28 States’ Approval, NASS Prepares State Police Bill For Tinubu’s Assent

The National Assembly (NASS) has received approval from 28 state Houses of Assembly for the proposed establishment of state police.

The development has paved the way for the transmission of the Constitutional Amendment Bill to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.

The clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed this in a statement he issued yesterday in Abuja.

He confirmed that the number of approving states had exceeded the constitutionally required threshold of 24.

The proposed legislation, known as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, seeks to amend the Constitution to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and Related Matters.

Ogunlana said the bill was transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026, for consideration and approval, with a request that their decisions be communicated to the National Assembly within 30 days.

He said the deadline elapsed on October 15, but his office would continue to receive reports from state legislatures until the bill was transmitted for presidential assent.

“Following the receipt and verification of the reports, the Office confirms that 28 state Houses of Assembly have approved the bill,” the statement said.

The clerk explained that the approvals exceeded the constitutionally prescribed threshold of not less than two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, equivalent to 24 states, as required under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution.

He added that the Office of the Clerk had undertaken administrative verification of the reports and accompanying Votes and Proceedings to establish their authenticity and ensure that the records accurately reflected the decisions of the respective state legislatures.

Ogunlana also clarified that Section 9 of the Constitution does not expressly prescribe a third reading for a Constitution Alteration Bill, unlike the procedure applicable to ordinary legislation.

He said the National Assembly had commenced the necessary administrative processes to facilitate the transmission of the bill to President Tinubu for assent.

“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.

He said the process would be carried out in accordance with the Authentication Act, CAP A2, (LFN) 2004.

The proposed constitutional amendment represents a significant development in the longstanding debate over decentralising Nigeria’s policing structure to address security challenges across the country.

Proponents of state police have consistently argued that allowing states to establish and manage their police services would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community-based security and enable faster responses to local security threats.

The National Assembly said the cooperation of the State Houses of Assembly had contributed to the progress of the constitutional amendment process.

“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,” the statement added.

The Office of the Clerk said it would continue to provide accurate and timely information on developments relating to the constitutional amendment.