Tinubu Assent: Nigeria State Police Bill Forwarded After 28 States Approve

• The National Assembly is preparing to send the State Police Bill to President Bola Tinubu for his signature.
• Approvals from 28 state Houses of Assembly have been authenticated, exceeding the constitutional requirement of 24 states.
• The bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to establish State Police Services, decentralizing Nigeria's policing system.
• This move is seen as a significant step towards addressing worsening security challenges, though concerns about potential abuses persist.
• The transmission process follows the Acts Authentication Act, CAP A2, (LEN) 2004.

This impending presidential assent represents a monumental step in the long-standing discourse surrounding the establishment of state police in Nigeria.

The National Assembly is poised to forward the proposed State Police Bill to President Bola Tinubu for his assent, marking a pivotal moment for Nigeria's security framework. This action follows the successful authentication of approvals from 28 state Houses of Assembly, surpassing the constitutionally mandated threshold. Kamoru Ogunlana, the Clerk to the National Assembly, confirmed this development in a statement released on Tuesday, indicating that the necessary administrative checks on the reports and accompanying proceedings from the state legislatures have been completed to verify their authenticity.

With the required number of state approvals now secured, the administrative processes are underway to facilitate the transmission of the National Assembly State Police Bill to the President. This transmission will be conducted in strict adherence to the provisions of the Acts Authentication Act, CAP A2, (LEN) 2004. The proposed legislation aims to introduce a significant Nigeria State Police constitutional amendment, specifically targeting the 1999 Constitution to enable the establishment of State Police Services and address related matters, responding to growing calls for a decentralised policing Nigeria law.

The constitutional alteration bill was initially dispatched to all 36 state Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026, with a request for their decisions to be communicated back to the National Assembly within a 30-day period. Although this deadline expired on October 15, 2026, the Clerk's office continued to accept reports from state legislatures until the point of transmission for presidential assent. The confirmation of 28 state approvals significantly exceeds the constitutional requirement, which stipulates that such an amendment must be approved by not less than two-thirds of the 36 state legislatures, equating to 24 states, as outlined in Section 9 of the Constitution.

It is important to note that Section 9 of the Constitution does not explicitly mandate a third reading for a constitutional alteration bill, a procedural distinction from the requirements for ordinary legislative bills. This clarification underscores the specific legal pathway being followed for this significant Nigeria State Police constitutional amendment. The administrative verification process, including the authentication of votes and proceedings, ensures that the decisions taken by the state Houses of Assembly are accurately reflected and legally sound, paving the way for the imminent Tinubu assent Nigeria State Police Bill.

This impending presidential assent represents a monumental step in the long-standing discourse surrounding the establishment of state police in Nigeria. Proponents of this shift argue that a decentralised policing Nigeria law would empower states to more effectively address localized security threats, including prevalent issues such as kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and communal violence. Currently, Nigeria operates under a centrally controlled police system, with the Nigeria Police Force holding sole authority and state governments lacking independent police commands.

Advocates for this reform contend that the impact of state police Nigeria would include enhanced intelligence gathering capabilities and the ability to tailor security operations to specific local circumstances, thereby improving overall public safety. However, the move is not without its critics and concerns. Reservations have been voiced regarding the potential for political abuse of state-controlled police structures, the adequacy of funding mechanisms for these new entities, and the crucial issue of safeguarding human rights under a fragmented policing system. This development is a critical component of broader Nigerian security sector reform efforts, aiming to reshape the nation's approach to law enforcement and public order.

The imminent presidential assent to the State Police Bill will fundamentally alter Nigeria's security architecture, requiring legal practitioners and compliance officers to prepare for a new decentralized policing framework. This will necessitate understanding new jurisdictional boundaries, operational protocols, and potential compliance challenges related to state-level law enforcement.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH