State police moves closer as House passes bill, Senate advances debate
By Victor Idajili
Nigeria took a major step toward establishing state police yesterday as the House of Representatives passed the constitutional amendment bill, while the Senate pushed its version through second reading.
The House approved “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” at the Committee of the Whole. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who chairs the Constitution Review Committee, presented the report.
A manual vote showed 289 lawmakers backed the bill, which creates a dual policing system: a Federal Police and State Police, aimed at tackling worsening security challenge.
Section 214 of the Constitution would be amended to formally recognise both police formations. The National Assembly will set the structure, administration and powers of the Federal Police, plus minimum standards for state police.
States can only launch police services after their House of Assembly passes a law and certifies compliance with national standards. Until a state force is fully operational, the Federal Police retains policing powers there.
To prevent abuse, federal intervention in state police would be limited. The Federal Police can only step in during a breakdown of law and order at a governor’s request, or if a state force collapses due to administrative, financial or operational problems.
Appointments and oversight
The Inspector-General of Police would be appointed by the president on advice of the Nigeria Police Council from serving Federal Police officers, subject to National Assembly confirmation.
A State Commissioner of Police would be appointed by the governor on advice of the same council from serving State Police officers, subject to confirmation by the State House of Assembly.
Governors can issue lawful directives to their state commissioners on public safety and law and order. If a commissioner deems a directive unlawful, the matter goes to the Nigeria Police Council for a final decision.
The bill also replaces “National Police Council” and “Federal Police Service Commission” in Section 84 with “Nigeria Police Council” and “Police Service Commission”.
The Senate advanced its own constitutional amendment bill to second reading. Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred it to the Ad-hoc Committee on 1999 Constitution Review.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele argued the reform modernises security by creating distinct federal and state structures. He said the current centralised force is overstretched by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes, cultism, armed robbery, pipeline vandalism and cybercrime.
The bill proposes State Police Service Commissions, federal oversight, uniform standards, and clear appointment/removal procedures to guard against abuse. Bamidele said policing works best when officers know local languages, terrain and communities. State police would also ease pressure on the Federal Police to focus on interstate crimes, terrorism, organised crime and protection of national assets. He pointed to the US, Canada, Australia and Germany as models.
Senators largely supported it. Chief Whip Tahir Monguno said it would legalise and regulate existing sub-national security outfits and improve accountability. Senator Adamu Aliero, however, warned about manpower gaps, noting Nigeria has fewer than 400,000 police officers nationwide.
House passage is just one hurdle. The 1999 Constitution requires Senate concurrence first. Then the bill goes to the 36 state assemblies — at least 24 must approve before it returns to the National Assembly for presidential assent.
Even after assent, each state must still pass its own police law and meet National Assembly standards before operations begin.
Calls for state police date back to pre-independence Nigeria, when regions ran Native Authority Police alongside the central force. The system was scrapped after the 1966 coup, and the 1999 Constitution entrenched a single Nigeria Police Force.
The issue resurfaced at the 2014 National Conference and gained steam as insecurity rose. Governors, who are “chief security officers” without control of police, and regional outfits like Amotekun and Ebubeagu, kept the pressure on. Under President Bola Tinubu, both the presidency and many governors now back constitutional change.
Experts warn on funding, capacity.
Security experts caution that state police won’t be an instant fix. Concerns include funding, manpower, equipment and whether states can manage new forces. One expert questioned if any state can afford it, noting even US states struggle with police budgets. Others fear political interference and ask whether states can handle banditry and terrorism given current federal police limitations.
Another analyst warned Nigeria could multiply its problems if state police just replicates federal weaknesses 36 times. He urged a risk assessment and said training infrastructure for new recruits is still lacking.
A political analyst acknowledged fears of abuse, citing First Republic history when regional police were used against opponents. But he argued the overstretched central force can’t cope alone, and state police could complement federal policing if lessons from the past are applied.
Timeline of positions
Jan 5, 2022: Former President Muhammadu Buhari ruled out state police.Apr 22, 2024: Former President Goodluck Jonathan called it the only solution to insecurity.Jun 16, 2025: Ex-IGP Kayode Egbetokun argued for strengthening the NPF instead. He was replaced Feb 23, 2026 by Tunji Disu.Feb 25, 2026: President Tinubu asked the 10th Senate to amend the constitution for state police .Mar 4, 2026: IGP Tunji Disu inaugurated a committee to draft a state police framework.Mar 26, 2026: He submitted the framework to Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.Jun 11, 2026: House passed the bill; Senate scaled second reading.
While yesterday’s votes mark a milestone, the road to operational state police across Nigeria remains long and complex.
