State Police: Reps Receive Constitution Review Report, Setting Stage for Final Passage
Thursday, 23 July 2026
By Atlantic Digest National Assembly Desk
Nigeria has moved another step closer to establishing constitutionally recognised state police services after the House of Representatives received the report of its Special Ad Hoc Committee on Constitution Review, paving the way for debate and final legislative consideration of the proposed constitutional amendment.
The report was presented during Tuesday’s plenary by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who chairs the constitution review committee. Its presentation follows an executive session held on Monday, during which lawmakers harmonised the House position with the Senate’s version of the legislation in preparation for final passage.
The proposed legislation is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, which the House adopted on July 14 after withdrawing an earlier version of the amendment approved in June.
Among the significant provisions already endorsed by the Senate is a clause stipulating that state police services would remain subordinate to the Nigeria Police Force only during periods of constitutionally authorised federal intervention, a safeguard intended to preserve national security while strengthening local policing.
Deputy Speaker Kalu expressed optimism that both chambers of the National Assembly would complete work on the amendment within a short period, noting that the House and Senate were working closely to ensure consistency in the final document before transmitting it to President Tinubu for assent.
However, even after approval by the National Assembly and presidential assent, the constitutional amendment must still secure the endorsement of at least two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 State Houses of Assembly before it can become part of the Constitution.
Supporters argue that creating state police will improve community policing, strengthen intelligence gathering and enable quicker responses to insecurity across the country. Critics, however, have raised concerns about possible political interference, abuse of power and the need for strong constitutional safeguards to protect citizens’ rights.
In a related development, the House also approved ₦233.96 billion as the 2026 budget of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, aimed at enhancing police operations, training, logistics, equipment and infrastructure across the country.
The progress of the state police bill marks one of the most significant constitutional reform efforts in recent years and could fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s security architecture if it successfully completes the remaining legislative and constitutional approval process.
