State Police Amendment Secures Approval Of 24 State Assemblies

The Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, providing for a dual policing system in Nigeria, has secured approval from 24 State Houses of Assembly, meeting the constitutional requirement of two-thirds of the 36 states.

The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by the Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Working Group, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The Working Group commended the State Houses of Assembly for their action on the constitutional amendment, describing it as a reform of national importance.

It also acknowledged the National Assembly for passing the amendment in both chambers.

According to the statement, the amendment can now be returned to the National Assembly for transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent, in line with Section 9 of the Constitution.

The approval provides constitutional backing for the policing framework that the Working Group’s draft National Policing Bill, 2026, is designed to implement.

The Working Group disclosed that the draft bills are currently undergoing legislative drafting review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice.

It said the bills are expected to be returned to the Working Group on or before Friday, October 30, 2026, for final consideration before presentation to the President.

The statement added that the Working Group remained committed to advancing the process towards the implementation of a dual policing system.

It urged all stakeholders to support a smooth transition to the proposed system, which it said was intended to make Nigerians safer.