Nigeria: State Police Constitutional Amendment Approval Secures Majority

• Twenty-four of Nigeria's 36 State Houses of Assembly have approved a constitutional amendment to establish State Police, meeting the required two-thirds threshold.
• This approval surpasses the constitutional requirement for such legislative changes.
• The specific legislation is known as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026.
• The constitutional amendment can now be returned to the National Assembly for transmission to the President for assent.
• This development signifies a major step towards decentralizing police powers in Nigeria, though further legislative and certification steps are required before state police become operational.

The establishment of State Police will fundamentally reshape Nigeria's security and legal landscape, introducing entirely new dynamics in law enforcement, public order maintenance, and criminal justice administration across the diverse states.

Nigeria has taken a significant stride towards the establishment of State Police, with a crucial constitutional amendment receiving widespread approval from the nation's legislative bodies. A total of 24 out of the 36 State Houses of Assembly have formally endorsed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, meeting the constitutional threshold required for the amendment to proceed. This substantial support marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to decentralize policing responsibilities across the country.

This level of legislative backing not only demonstrates a strong consensus but also comfortably surpasses the constitutionally mandated threshold required for such fundamental alterations to the nation's supreme legal document. The successful passage through these regional assemblies underscores a broad agreement among state lawmakers regarding the necessity and urgency of this reform. The Nigeria State Police constitutional amendment approval is a clear indicator of the nation's trajectory towards a restructured security framework.

The proposed constitutional change is specifically outlined within the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, which seeks to introduce state-level police forces, thereby moving away from the existing centralized command structure. The process for amending the Nigerian Constitution is intentionally rigorous, demanding resolutions of support from a supermajority of the State Houses of Assembly. The fact that 24 assemblies have now given their assent means this critical condition has been met, paving the way for further legislative action.

This development is a central component of the broader Nigerian state police reform legislation, addressing long-standing calls for more localized and responsive law enforcement. The State Houses of Assembly constitutional amendment Nigeria represents a crucial legislative step in empowering individual states with greater autonomy over their internal security apparatus, aiming for a more effective and community-oriented approach to maintaining law and order. This move is poised to fundamentally alter the operational dynamics of policing nationwide.

The advancement of this Nigeria police decentralization bill carries profound and far-reaching implications for the country's security architecture and its intricate legal environment. The establishment of State Police will fundamentally reshape Nigeria's security and legal landscape, introducing entirely new dynamics in law enforcement, public order maintenance, and criminal justice administration across the diverse states. This significant shift is widely anticipated to lead to the development of distinct state-specific policing laws and enforcement procedures, which will be tailored to local contexts, unique challenges, and community needs, rather than a uniform national approach.

The Presidency, through the Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, confirmed on October 23, 2026, that the amendment had secured the required backing from 24 state legislatures. This means the constitutional requirement has been met, and the amendment can now be returned to the National Assembly for transmission to the President for assent. For legal professionals and compliance officers, this impending change necessitates close and continuous monitoring. The new framework is expected to introduce novel state-specific compliance requirements for businesses and individuals operating within various states, demanding a thorough and proactive understanding of the evolving state-level regulations and their practical application.

Lawyers and compliance officers should closely monitor the final enactment of the Sixth Alteration Bill, as the establishment of State Police will fundamentally reshape Nigeria's security and legal landscape, potentially leading to new state-specific policing laws, enforcement procedures, and compliance requirements for businesses and individuals.

Source: Original reporting via TheNigeriaLawyer.