The National Assembly has transmitted the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, which contains provisions for the establishment of state police, to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for review and ratification.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, confirmed that the measure was forwarded pursuant to Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Ogunlana indicated that the federal legislature expects the respective state assemblies to consider the bill and communicate their resolutions within a 30-day administrative timeframe.
He noted, however, that the 30-day timeframe serves as an administrative guideline rather than a strict constitutional requirement.
He added that the proposed constitutional amendment requires approval from at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly—representing 24 states—to advance to the subsequent stage of the amendment process.
The proposed establishment of state police forms part of broader ongoing measures aimed at restructuring Nigeria’s policing architecture and addressing the country’s security challenges.
The Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, also incorporates provisions for financial autonomy for local government councils, the introduction of independent candidacy in elections, and the reservation of special legislative seats for women.
Additional proposed measures in the reform package encompass electoral restructuring—including the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission—alongside judicial reforms and the devolution of powers.
The State Houses of Assembly are now expected to commence debate on the bill in accordance with their respective legislative procedures before formally communicating their decisions to the National Assembly.
Backstory…
The current process gathered momentum during the 2025 constitutional review exercise. The National Assembly held public hearings across Nigeria, where state police featured prominently among the proposals.
The Senate later said the proposal had undergone consultations involving the executive, governors, state legislators and the police hierarchy.
The proposal then moved through the National Assembly in 2026. The Senate passed the executive-backed State Police constitutional amendment on June 24, with 84 senators supporting it.
The House of Representatives subsequently passed the same executive version on July 23, after withdrawing an earlier version of its own bill so both chambers could proceed with identical legislation.
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