In a landmark move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and deepening the country’s federal structure, the House of Representatives has passed the constitutional amendment bill seeking the establishment of state police across the federation.
The historic decision was reached during plenary on Thursday following the consideration and voting on a series of constitutional amendment proposals before the Green Chamber.
Announcing the outcome of the vote, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, disclosed that the proposal to create state police received overwhelming support from lawmakers.
According to the voting results announced by the Speaker, 289 members voted in favour of the constitutional amendment, while only one member voted against the proposal. There were no abstentions, bringing the total number of votes cast to 290.
The overwhelming endorsement marks one of the most significant constitutional reforms approved by the 10th National Assembly, reflecting growing consensus among lawmakers on the need to decentralize policing and empower sub-national governments to play a more active role in maintaining law and order within their jurisdictions.
The passage of the amendment comes amid increasing calls from stakeholders, security experts, traditional rulers, governors and civil society groups for a restructuring of Nigeria’s policing system to address emerging security challenges, including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, communal conflicts and other forms of criminality across the country.
Proponents of state police have consistently argued that local policing structures would enhance intelligence gathering, improve rapid response to security threats and strengthen community-based law enforcement due to a better understanding of local terrains and peculiar security dynamics.
However, while the state police amendment successfully scaled the voting stage, the House postponed consideration of several other constitutional amendment bills to a later legislative session. The postponement, according to parliamentary sources, is intended to allow for further consultations and legislative engagement on the affected proposals.
The House of Representatives adjourned its plenary session until July 7, 2026, to mark the end of the legislative year and to review other constitutional amendment proposals, which will be the first item they vote on after their recess.
The passage of the state police amendment by the House of Representatives represents a major milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing constitutional review process. The proposal is expected to proceed through the remaining constitutional procedures required for final adoption, including concurrence by other legislative stakeholders and fulfillment of constitutional requirements.
Political observers have described the development as a watershed moment in Nigeria’s democratic evolution, with many viewing it as a bold step toward addressing longstanding concerns over the nation’s centralized policing framework and enhancing security governance at the state level.
The decision is expected to generate widespread reactions across the country as Nigerians assess the potential implications of state police on security, governance and federalism.
