28 states approve State Police Bill as National Assembly prepares to transmit to Tinubu

The National Assembly has confirmed that 28 State Houses of Assembly have approved the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police across Nigeria.

The confirmation was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, following the verification of reports submitted by the state legislatures.

Ogunlana said the 28 approvals exceeded the constitutional requirement of two-thirds of the 36 state assemblies, which amounts to 24 states, for a constitutional amendment to proceed.

He said, “Following the receipt and verification of the reports, the office confirms that 28 State Houses of Assembly have approved the Bill.”

The proposed legislation, known as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, Sixth Alteration Bill, 2026, seeks to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and related matters.

According to the Clerk, the National Assembly transmitted the bill to the 36 state assemblies on September 16, 2026, requesting that their decisions be communicated within 30 days.

Although the deadline elapsed on October 15, Ogunlana said his office would continue to receive reports from state assemblies until the bill is transmitted for presidential assent.

He explained that the office had carried out administrative verification of the submitted reports and accompanying Votes and Proceedings to establish their authenticity.

The confirmation comes amid earlier conflicting figures from senior government and legislative officials.

On October 23, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, announced that 24 state assemblies had approved the proposed amendment.

However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele subsequently put the figure at about 30 states.

Bamidele had also disclosed on October 29 that the National Assembly intended to complete the remaining legislative stages and transmit the amendment to Tinubu for assent on or before December 2026.

Ogunlana said the necessary administrative processes were already underway to facilitate the transmission of the bill to the President.

Recall that the proposed state police system is expected to operate alongside the existing federal policing structure, with the aim of strengthening security and improving responses to criminal activities across the country.

Recently, Nigeria has continued to grapple with security challenges, including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and communal violence, prompting renewed calls for decentralisation of the country’s policing system.