State Police Bill scales major hurdle as 24 states approve amendment

The Presidency says the proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police in Nigeria has scaled a major hurdle after 24 State Houses of Assembly approved it.

Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, made this known in a statement on Friday.

Gbajabiamila, who is also the Chief of Staff of President Bola Tinubu, revealed that the Constitution Sixth Alteration Bill, 2026, which provides for a dual policing system, has now met the constitutional requirement of two-thirds of the 36 states.

According to him, 24 state assemblies have endorsed the bill, meaning it has met the threshold needed for constitutional amendment.

“The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill notes with satisfaction that the Constitution Sixth Alteration Bill, 2026, providing for a dual policing system, has been approved by 24 State Houses of Assembly, meeting the constitutional threshold of two-thirds of the 36 states,” the statement said.

The Working Group, therefore, applauded the state assemblies for what it described as decisive action on a reform of national importance, thanking the National Assembly for passing the amendment in both chambers.

Gbajabiamila further noted that with the approval, the amendment can now be returned to the National Assembly for onward transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent, in line with Section 9 of the Constitution.

According to him, the approval gives constitutional backing to the policing framework contained in the draft National Policing Bill, 2026.

He added that the draft bills are currently undergoing review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice and are expected to be returned on or before October 30, 2026, for final consideration before presentation to the President.

The President’s Chief of Staff called on all stakeholders to support a smooth transition to a dual policing system that will make Nigerians safer.