The Senate has passed a constitutional amendment bill establishing state police services across the country, marking a significant step in efforts to decentralise policing and strengthen internal security.
The legislation, titled A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for the Establishment of State Police and Related Matters (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 (SB. 1055), was approved during plenary after consideration by the Committee of the Whole chaired by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The bill introduces a dual policing structure comprising the Federal Police Service and State Police Services, replacing the existing framework of a single Nigeria Police Force.
Under the new arrangement, the Federal Police Service will handle federal offences, security within the Federal Capital Territory, national security matters, interstate crimes and organised criminal activities. State police services will be responsible for local law enforcement, maintenance of public order and the protection of lives and property within their respective states.
The legislation also establishes state police commissions and provides guidelines for the appointment, discipline, oversight and removal of the Inspector-General of Police and state police commanders. It further grants the Federal Government powers to intervene in state police operations under specific circumstances, including a breakdown of public order, operational incapacity or threats to national security.
Presenting the general principles of the bill, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the proposed law would provide the constitutional basis for states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the federal police structure.
The bill subsequently passed second reading, was considered clause-by-clause and scaled third reading.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier transmitted the constitutional amendment bill to the Senate as part of efforts to reform the country’s security architecture.
Meanwhile, the Senate resorted to manual voting after electronic voting devices failed to function despite repeated attempts to activate them for more than 30 minutes.
Following a motion moved by Senate Leader Bamidele and seconded by Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, senators adopted a voice and hand-count procedure, with members raising their hands to indicate their positions on the bill.
The passage of the legislation is regarded as one of the most significant constitutional reforms in Nigeria’s security sector and is expected to reshape policing and intergovernmental security relations across the federation.