By Ene Rebecca
July 14, 2026
The House of Representatives has withdrawn its proposed constitutional amendment bill seeking the establishment of state police, opting instead to consider a similar proposal submitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The decision was reached during plenary on Tuesday, where lawmakers introduced the Executive-sponsored Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, and advanced it through first and second readings.
Following deliberations, the House referred the bill to its Committee on Constitutional Review for further legislative scrutiny and consideration.
President Tinubu had earlier transmitted the proposed legislation to the National Assembly, seeking constitutional backing for the creation of state police services across Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s security framework.
In his communication to the House, the President stated that the bill seeks to amend relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution to establish the legal basis for state-controlled police formations operating alongside the Nigeria Police Force.
According to the Presidency, the proposal builds on previous legislative work undertaken by the National Assembly and introduces safeguards intended to support the effective operation of a dual policing structure involving both federal and state law enforcement agencies.
By stepping down its earlier proposal, the House has effectively consolidated legislative efforts around the Executive-backed version of the bill, a move expected to streamline the constitutional amendment process on one of Nigeria’s most debated security reforms.
The development comes amid growing calls for the decentralisation of policing in response to persistent security challenges across various parts of the country. The Committee on Constitutional Review is expected to examine the provisions of the bill before presenting its recommendations to the House for further debate and possible passage.
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