Lagos Assembly approves State Police Bill

The Lagos State House of Assembly has approved the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, joining 24 other state legislatures in supporting the proposed amendment and paving the way for its presentation to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

The lawmakers approved the bill during Tuesday’s plenary, presided over by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, following its transmission by the National Assembly for concurrence.

The development forms part of the ongoing constitutional review process, under which the National Assembly forwarded the proposed amendment to all 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, had explained that the process followed Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, which requires at least two-thirds of state legislatures, representing 24 out of 36 states, to approve a proposed constitutional amendment before it can be submitted to the President for assent.

A major component of the current amendment process is the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, which has generated considerable debate across the country.

The proposal seeks to introduce a decentralised policing system comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services. President Tinubu has backed the reform and inaugurated a Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill to develop the legal framework for its implementation.

Supporters of state police argue that decentralising law enforcement would bring security services closer to communities, improve responses to local threats and enable states to address their specific security challenges more effectively.

During Tuesday’s deliberations, Obasa described the proposed amendment as a timely development that had been needed for years.

“I strongly believe the proposed amendment is a good one for us. For so many years, and at every section by each assembly that has come, we always have a reason to deal with issues that has to do with security of our nation for the security of our people. So, it is a good one for us that this is taking place and happening in this 10th Assembly. Both the Senate and House of Representatives have done their own bits and sent to all Houses of Assembly. I congratulate each one of us,” the Speaker said.

After the bill was adopted through a voice vote, Obasa praised the National Assembly for advancing the reform but expressed concern that the proposed framework still gave the Federal Government considerable control over state policing.

“Even though we are happy that we are having state police, our interest and position has not been well taken care of in this alteration. As you follow, you would realise that the major control still lies at the central. There is a provision that says where there is a conflict between the State Assembly and National Assembly, the federal prevails. But it is still a step forward. I want to believe that there is hope in the future that will give total control to the state,” he said.

The Speaker also commended Tinubu for his commitment to democratic institutions and acknowledged the contributions of the National Assembly to the constitutional amendment process.

“I want to thank the President for his firm belief in democratic institutions. We appreciate him. We commend both the National Assembly and House of Representatives for this move. We are not there yet. We still hope they will do the needful in appropriate time,” Obasa added.

He also called for the introduction of a Parliamentary Police to protect legislative institutions, citing the need for stronger safeguards against actions that could threaten the independence and security of state legislatures.

Obasa proposed that the relevant law should provide for such a security arrangement, similar to the system in the United States, warning that past incidents had exposed the vulnerability of legislative institutions to political interference.

“There is no such provision in the state. There should be in the Act provision for the Parliamentary Police as we have in the United States if we are ready to protect the Legislature. Learning from past incidents, a government will demolish a parliament just like that because of one person’s interest and desire. For this not to happen again, Parliamentary Police will go a long way in strengthening the legislation,” he said.

The Lagos Assembly subsequently adjourned plenary until November 9, 2026.