State Police bill: At least 24 of the 36 state legislatures must approve the bill before Nigeria gets its first constitutional framework for state police.
The National Assembly has transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval, in line with the constitutional requirement for altering the 1999 Constitution.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed the transmission in a statement on Wednesday, 16 September.
“The National Assembly has commenced the next stage of the constitutional alteration process with the transmission of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 to the Houses of Assembly of the 36 States of the Federation for their consideration and approval.
The Clerk to the National Assembly has, pursuant to the directive of the leadership of the National Assembly, transmitted the Bill to the respective State Houses of Assembly in accordance with Section 9 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) today, 16th September, 2026,” he said.
What the transmitted State police bill actually contains
The bill transmitted is the State Police Establishment Bill, the only constitutional alteration proposal to have passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the current 10th Assembly, out of more than 30 proposals currently under consideration to alter the 1999 Constitution.
The Senate passed an executive version of the bill, received from President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, 23 June, for third reading the following day.
Beyond the state police framework, which proposes a dual policing structure comprising federal and state police services, the broader Sixth Alteration Bill also covers financial autonomy for local governments, independent candidacy, electoral reforms, special legislative seats for women, and judicial reforms.
Why 24 states must approve the State Police bill
Under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly, a minimum of 24 states, must pass resolutions approving a constitutional alteration bill before the National Assembly can complete the amendment process.
In transmitting the bill, Ogunlana asked state assemblies to consider the proposals in line with their own legislative procedures and forward their resolutions to the National Assembly once deliberations conclude.
The 30-day window, and what NASS says it isn’t
Ogunlana said state legislatures are expected to communicate their decisions within 30 days of receiving the bill, though he stressed this timeframe is administrative rather than a constitutional deadline.
He said the National Assembly respects the independence of the state Houses of Assembly in considering the bill.
“The National Assembly recognises the constitutional responsibility vested in the State Houses of Assembly and respects their independence in the consideration of the Bill,” he said, adding that the National Assembly remains committed to ensuring the process is conducted “in strict compliance with the Constitution and in accordance with the principles of due process, institutional cooperation and respect for the legislative” authority of the states.
What happens next
The state Houses of Assembly are now expected to commence their respective legislative consideration of the bill, including any public hearings or internal procedures each state chooses to follow.
Once resolutions are received from the states, the National Assembly will determine the next constitutional steps required, including whether the two-thirds threshold has been met, before the bill can proceed toward final enactment.
The outcome will determine whether Nigeria gets its first constitutional framework explicitly authorising state police forces alongside the existing Nigeria Police Force.
