By Deborah Nnamdi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally transmitted a constitutional amendment bill to the Senate seeking the establishment of state police across Nigeria, a move that could significantly reshape the country’s security architecture.
The proposed legislation, contained in a communication dated June 15, 2026, was read during plenary by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who subsequently referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review with a directive to report back on Wednesday.
The bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to create a legal framework for a dual policing system, allowing states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force. If enacted, it would mark a major departure from Nigeria’s current policing structure, which places law enforcement exclusively under federal control.
In his communication to lawmakers, President Tinubu described the proposal as a key component of ongoing efforts to reform the nation’s security system and improve the protection of lives and property. He noted that communities, municipalities, and local government areas would play more active roles in maintaining security under the proposed arrangement.
Akpabio said the legislation would be implemented in phases through constitutional alteration and subsequent Acts of Parliament, assuring lawmakers that adequate safeguards would be included to prevent abuse.
“We will do it in two phases through alteration and an Act of Parliament. There will be a lot of safeguards; let us come and do this important task,” he said.
The Senate President also stressed the importance of community-based policing, arguing that local authorities are better positioned to identify suspicious activities and provide timely intelligence to security agencies.
The latest development comes barely two weeks after the Senate passed an executive bill on state police for the second reading. According to Akpabio, the newly transmitted Constitution Alteration Bill is intended to provide the constitutional foundation necessary for the establishment of state police services.
The proposal has long been a subject of national debate. Supporters argue that decentralising policing would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community policing, and enable faster responses to local security challenges, particularly amid rising insecurity in several parts of the country.
Critics, however, have expressed concerns over the possibility of state governors abusing control of state police forces, political interference in law enforcement, and the potential use of such agencies against political opponents.
As a constitutional amendment, the bill must secure the support of at least two-thirds of both the Senate and the House of Representatives before being transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly. It must then be approved by no fewer than 24 state legislatures before receiving presidential assent.
Senate leaders have urged lawmakers to attend upcoming sittings, noting that constitutional amendments require broad legislative support. They described the state police proposal as a non-partisan issue that transcends regional and political interests.
The Senate is expected to subject the bill to extensive legislative scrutiny, including stakeholder consultations and public hearings, as deliberations begin on what is widely regarded as one of the most far-reaching security reform initiatives in Nigeria’s recent history.
