Nigerian Senate: State Police Law Enactment Nears After 24 States Approve

• The Nigerian Senate has pledged to enact state police legislation by the end of the current year.
• Twenty-four state Houses of Assembly, including Ondo, have approved the constitutional amendment required for state police.
• The Presidential Working Group, led by Femi Gbajabiamila, submitted the draft National Policing Bill, 2026, and 29 amendment bills to the Ministry of Justice for review.
• The National Assembly is determined to conclude the legislative process for the new police law before the Christmas break.
• This proposed legislation is a priority in the ongoing constitutional review, aimed at strengthening the country's response to insecurity.

The Senate has unequivocally committed to the enactment of legislation establishing state police services across Nigeria before the close of the current year, marking a significant step in the nation's ongoing constitutional review.

The Nigerian Senate has unequivocally committed to the enactment of legislation establishing state police services across Nigeria before the close of the current year, marking a significant step in the nation's ongoing constitutional review. This assurance follows a crucial development where the requisite two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly have now approved the constitutional amendment necessary for this reform. The Ondo State House of Assembly recently joined the growing list, passing the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, which specifically aims to create State Police Services within the country.

During a plenary session, Ondo lawmakers successfully navigated the bill through its second and third readings, securing unanimous support from all members present for its passage. This approval by Ondo State brought the total number of approving states to 24, thereby fulfilling the constitutional requirement for the National Assembly to proceed. Prior to Ondo's decision, twenty-three other states had already given their assent to the bill, including Osun, Adamawa, Delta, Edo, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, Zamfara, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Ekiti, Kebbi, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Abia, Yobe, and Kaduna. This collective action paves the way for the final legislative stages of the Nigeria state police law enactment.

Complementing the legislative efforts, a Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill has been actively involved in shaping the proposed framework. Chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President, this group recently submitted the comprehensive draft of the National Policing Bill, 2026, alongside 29 consequential amendment bills, to the Ministry of Justice. The purpose of this submission is for a thorough legislative drafting review and validation process. The Ministry of Justice is anticipated to return these validated drafts by October 30, after which the working group will undertake a final consideration before presenting them to President Bola Tinubu for his approval. Subsequently, the President will transmit these crucial documents to the National Assembly for further action.

Earlier statements from Gbajabiamila indicated that the proposed bill was approximately 90 percent complete and was slated for transmission to the National Assembly by October 29. However, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, who chairs the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, chose not to comment on the executive's specific timeline. Adaramodu emphasized that the Senate would await formal receipt of the bills before offering any official response or proceeding with their legislative duties. This distinction highlights the procedural separation between the executive's preparatory work and the legislature's formal engagement with the proposed National Policing Bill 2026 Nigeria.

The Nigerian Senate state police bill is a central component of the ongoing constitutional review process, identified as a top priority by the National Assembly. Senator Adaramodu affirmed the legislature's commitment to expediting this matter, particularly once the necessary proposals are formally received from the executive branch. He also addressed and dismissed concerns regarding potential delays in securing state-level approvals for the constitutional amendment. Adaramodu clarified that the 30-day period often referenced pertains to the deadline for states to submit their inputs, not a constraint on the National Assembly's timeline for deliberation.

Expressing strong confidence, Adaramodu reiterated that the process for establishing State police services Nigeria legislation would be concluded before the year's end. He underscored the critical necessity of this proposed law in bolstering the nation's response to prevailing insecurity challenges. Furthermore, lawmakers are committed to ensuring that all relevant stakeholders are afforded opportunities to contribute to the development of the proposed framework, acknowledging its profound implications for communities across the country. This inclusive approach aims to create a robust and widely accepted Nigeria constitutional review state police system.

Lawyers and compliance officers should closely monitor the final text of the State Police Services Bill for new jurisdictional boundaries, operational mandates, and potential conflicts that will impact criminal procedure, corporate security, and public order compliance across Nigerian states once enacted.

Source: Original reporting via The PUNCH