President Bola Tinubu has formally transmitted the State Police Bill to the House of Representatives, requesting lawmakers to approve constitutional amendments that would establish state police services across Nigeria. The proposed legislation, officially titled the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, was conveyed in a letter read during Tuesday’s plenary session of the House.
According to the President, the State Police Bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to create the legal framework for a policing system that allows both the Federal Government and state governments to operate separate police services.
Tinubu explained that the proposal builds on earlier legislative efforts by the House of Representatives while introducing additional safeguards designed to ensure the effective operation of a dual policing structure. He said the measure is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and provide a more responsive approach to tackling the country’s evolving security challenges.
In his message to lawmakers, the President expressed confidence that the House would give the legislation speedy consideration. He described the State Police Bill as a vital part of his administration’s broader security reform agenda, noting that a decentralised policing framework would improve the country’s capacity to protect lives and property.
According to Tinubu, the proposed constitutional amendment is designed to enable the creation of state police services in a manner that promotes efficiency while preserving the necessary constitutional safeguards for both federal and state authorities.
The President urged members of the House of Representatives to expedite deliberations and passage of the bill to accelerate reforms aimed at improving national security. The latest development follows recent action by the Senate, which approved a similar constitutional amendment proposal after it secured the constitutionally required support of more than two-thirds of senators.
If the State Police Bill receives approval from the House of Representatives and is subsequently endorsed by the required number of state Houses of Assembly, Nigeria will move closer to establishing state-controlled police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force under the amended Constitution.
