The House of Representatives has abandoned its earlier constitutional amendment proposal on state policing and will now proceed with President Bola Tinubu’s State Police Bill as lawmakers push forward with plans to reform Nigeria’s security architecture.
The development emerged during Tuesday’s plenary session when the House formally introduced the Executive-sponsored Constitution Alteration Bill on state police and advanced it through first and second readings.
Following debate on the proposal, lawmakers referred the bill to the House Committee on Constitutional Review for detailed examination.
The decision effectively replaces the House’s earlier state police initiative, with legislators opting to work with the version submitted by the Presidency as efforts intensify to create a legal framework for state police services across Nigeria.
The committee is expected to review key provisions of the bill, including operational guidelines, funding structure, oversight mechanisms and safeguards to ensure accountability in the proposed dual policing system.
Its recommendations will later be presented before the full House for further debate and legislative action before the amendment can proceed through the constitutional alteration process.
President Bola Tinubu had formally transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, to the House of Representatives, seeking constitutional approval for the establishment of state police services nationwide.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, Tinubu said the proposed legislation would amend the 1999 Constitution and provide the legal foundation required for states to establish their own police services.
The President explained that the bill builds on previous efforts by lawmakers and introduces additional safeguards designed to ensure the effective operation of a dual policing structure involving both federal and state security agencies.
“I am 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,” Tinubu stated.
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According to the President, the proposed framework is aimed at addressing Nigeria’s growing security challenges by creating a more responsive and efficient policing system.
“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 our nation’s evolving national security challenges can be achieved quickly and effectively to the benefit of all Nigerians,” he said.
Tinubu described the legislation as a major part of his administration’s strategy to reorganise and modernise Nigeria’s security system, expressing confidence that lawmakers would give the proposal urgent consideration.
“The proposed legislation is a critical component of our administration’s strategy to reorganize Nigeria’s security architecture to better protect our citizens and I am confident that the House of Representatives will act quickly to consider and pass this Bill,” the President added.
He urged lawmakers to accelerate deliberations on the proposal, stressing that the reform would strengthen public safety and improve Nigeria’s overall security response.
The President’s move comes about two weeks after the Senate passed a similar constitutional amendment proposal seeking the creation of state police services across the federation.
The latest development signals renewed legislative momentum toward changing Nigeria’s long-standing centralised policing structure, a move supporters believe could improve security delivery at the grassroots level.
