Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
In a significant legislative shift on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, the House of Representatives withdrew its own constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police and instead adopted a similar proposal transmitted by President Bola Tinubu, effectively suspending work on its earlier initiative in favour of the executive-sponsored version. The decision, which came during Tuesday's plenary, saw lawmakers give the executive-backed bill its first and second readings before referring it to the House Committee on Constitutional Review for detailed scrutiny.
President Tinubu had formally transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, to the House of Representatives in a letter dated 15 June 2026, which was read during plenary. The President urged lawmakers to give expedited consideration to the proposal, describing it as a key component of his administration's security reforms. In the letter, Tinubu stated that he was delighted to present to the House of Representatives for consideration the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, which seeks to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to create a constitutional pathway for the establishment of State Police Services.
The executive-sponsored bill successfully scaled both its first and second readings during Tuesday's sitting. Following the readings, it was referred to the House Committee on Constitutional Review for further legislative input, public hearings, and clause-by-clause evaluation. The bill is expected to undergo detailed scrutiny at the committee stage, where lawmakers will examine its key provisions, proposed safeguards, and operational framework for the establishment of state police services across the federation.
By adopting the executive-sponsored bill for further consideration, the House has effectively suspended work on its earlier constitutional amendment on state police, allowing the President's proposal to take precedence in the legislative process. The committee will subsequently present its recommendations to the full House for further debate and legislative action before any final decision is taken on the proposed constitutional amendment.
President Tinubu explained that the bill builds on previous legislative efforts by the House and introduces additional safeguards aimed at ensuring the effective implementation of a dual policing system involving both federal and state law enforcement agencies. According to him, the proposed framework is intended to address the country's evolving security challenges by enabling a more responsive and efficient policing structure. The President stated that this bill builds on the significant work already done in this regard by the House of Representatives and incorporates additional safeguards to ensure that the creation of a dual policing structure to address the nation's evolving national security challenges can be achieved quickly and effectively to the benefit of all Nigerians.
Tinubu's transmission of the bill comes barely two weeks after the Senate passed a similar constitutional amendment proposal aimed at creating state police services across the federation. The move represents another step in ongoing efforts to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal framework for the establishment of state police, a proposal that has gained traction amid growing concerns over insecurity and increasing calls for the decentralisation of policing across the country. The executive bill will now undergo detailed scrutiny at the committee level, where lawmakers will refine its provisions before presenting it back to the floor for final passage. This administrative move consolidates policing reform efforts into a single legislative track, streamlining the complex constitutional amendment process required to allow sub-national policing.
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