*Photo: Senate President Godswill Akpabio *
The Nigerian Senate has passed the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish state police across the federation.
The Bill was passed on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, marking a historic shift to decentralise Nigeria’s policing structure to tackle worsening security challenges.
Because the electronic voting device developed a technical fault, lawmakers switched to a manual voting process where more than two-thirds of the senators openly backed the legislation.
The legislation alters Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution to officially establish a dual policing system.
This framework empowers states to establish and operate their own independent police forces alongside the existing federal police system.
It also shifts policing authority from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List.
State governors are empowered to appoint State Commissioners of Police and issue direct directives regarding public safety.
The bill mandates the creation of State Police Councils and State Police Service Commissions.
Federal police will only intervene during a total breakdown of law and order, upon a governor’s request, or if the state force fails to function.
The executive bill, which was formally transmitted to the Senate by President Bola Tinubu just a day prior, builds upon separate legislative work previously approved by the House of Representatives.
For the amendment to fully become law and take effect, it must complete the following constitutional steps:
• State Assembly Ratification: The bill must be formally approved by a two-thirds majority of Nigeria’s state legislatures, requiring votes from at least 24 of the 36 State Houses of Assembly.
• Presidential Assent: Once ratified by the state assemblies, the finalized constitutional amendment returns to the President for official signing.
• State Legislation: Individual states must still draft, fund, and pass their own local enabling laws to hire and train their forces.