The National Assembly(NASS) has confirmed that 28 State Houses of Assembly have approved the proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police, clearing a major hurdle for the decentralisation of Nigeria’s policing system.
The Clerk to the National Assembly (NASS), Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, confirming that the number of approvals exceeds the constitutional requirement of at least 24 states.
Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution requires approval by not less than two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly for a constitutional amendment to be effected.
Ogunlana said the NASS had received and verified the reports and accompanying Votes and Proceedings submitted by the state legislatures to authenticate their decisions.
The bill was transmitted to all 36 State Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026, for consideration and approval, with a request that their decisions be communicated within 30 days.
Although the stipulated period expired on October 15, Ogunlana said his office would continue receiving reports from the state legislatures until the bill is transmitted for presidential assent.
He explained that the verification exercise was aimed at establishing the authenticity of the documents and ensuring that they accurately reflected the decisions taken by the respective assemblies.
The Clerk also clarified that Section 9 of the Constitution does not expressly prescribe a third reading for a Constitution Alteration Bill, unlike the procedure applicable to ordinary bills.
With the required number of state approvals secured, Ogunlana said the necessary administrative processes were underway to facilitate the transmission of the bill to President Bola Tinubu for assent in accordance with the Acts Authentication Act, CAP A2, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
He commended the state legislatures for their cooperation and timely responses, describing the development as a significant step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and deepening federalism.
The proposed state police framework is part of ongoing efforts to decentralise the country’s policing structure and improve responses to security challenges, including kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and other criminal activities.
If the constitutional amendment process is completed, it will provide the legal framework for states to establish their own police services alongside the existing Nigeria Police Force.
