The House of Representatives has abandoned its earlier constitutional amendment proposal on state police and will now consider the bill forwarded by President Bola Tinubu seeking legal approval for the creation of state police services across Nigeria.
The decision became clear during Tuesday’s plenary when lawmakers introduced the Executive-backed Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, and advanced it through first and second readings before referring it to the House Committee on Constitutional Review.
The development marked a shift in the legislative process, as the House had previously worked on its own version of a state police proposal.
The lawmakers would now focus on reviewing the presidential submission, which seeks to establish a framework for a dual policing system involving both federal and state security structures.
The constitutional review committee is expected to examine key aspects of the bill, including operational guidelines, safeguards against abuse and the relationship between state police authorities and existing federal security agencies. Its recommendations will later be presented to the House for further consideration.
President Tinubu had formally transmitted the bill to the House, describing it as part of broader efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture and create a more effective response to growing security challenges.
In his letter to Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the President said the proposed amendment would provide the constitutional foundation needed for states to establish their own police services while maintaining necessary checks and protections.
Tinubu noted that the proposal builds on previous legislative efforts and introduces additional measures aimed at ensuring that state police operates effectively within a coordinated national security framework.
He urged lawmakers to give the bill urgent attention, describing it as a major component of his administration’s plan to modernise policing and improve the protection of citizens across the country.
The move followed a similar step by the Senate, which recently approved a constitutional amendment proposal on state police.
If passed by both chambers and supported by the required number of state legislatures, the amendment could bring a major change to Nigeria’s policing system.
Supporters of state police argued that decentralising security operations would allow faster responses to local threats, while critics have continued to raise concerns about possible political interference and misuse of such powers.
