Nigeria’s proposed state police reform has crossed a major constitutional hurdle, with 24 out of the 36 state Houses of Assembly approving the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026.
The Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill and Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
According to the working group, the approval meets the constitutional requirement of at least two-thirds of the 36 state legislatures for an amendment of this nature.
The group commended the state assemblies for their participation in the reform process and acknowledged the National Assembly for passing the constitutional amendment through both chambers.
With the required threshold reportedly achieved, the amendment is expected to return to the National Assembly for transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent, in line with Section 9 of the Nigerian Constitution.
The development is a significant step towards establishing a dual policing system in Nigeria, comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.
Supporters of the proposed arrangement argue that state policing could improve security by bringing law enforcement closer to communities, enabling officers to respond more quickly to local threats and addressing security challenges specific to individual states.
However, the implementation of state police will require clear legal safeguards, effective oversight and accountability mechanisms to protect citizens’ rights and prevent possible political interference or abuse of police powers.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Working Group says the draft National Policing Bill, 2026, alongside 29 consequential amendment bills, is undergoing legislative drafting review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The documents were submitted to the ministry after the working group completed the drafting stage of its assignment on October 19.
The review is intended to ensure that the proposed legislation meets established drafting standards and does not conflict with existing laws.
The Ministry of Justice is expected to return the validated bills to the working group on or before Friday, October 30, 2026.
The group will then conduct a final review before presenting the documents to the President, bringing its current assignment closer to completion.
The proposed National Policing Bill is designed to provide the legislative framework required to implement the dual policing structure once the necessary constitutional and legislative processes are completed.
The working group has urged stakeholders to support a smooth transition, saying the ultimate objective is to make Nigerians safer.
Although the approval by 24 state assemblies represents a key milestone, the final implementation of state police will depend on the completion of the required constitutional process, presidential assent and the necessary supporting legislation.
For now, attention is focused on the next legislative steps and the safeguards that will determine how federal and state police services operate within Nigeria’s security architecture.
Mediaplusng.com reports that the proposed reform could reshape policing in Nigeria, placing renewed attention on community security, institutional accountability and the protection of fundamental rights.
