Introduction

The Nigerian National Assembly has taken a major step by transmitting the State Policing Bill to all 36 State Houses of Assembly, initiating a constitutional amendment process that could fundamentally alter the country's approach to law enforcement.

What Happened

On September 16, 2026, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, formally delivered the State Policing Bill to the legislatures of Nigeria's 36 states. The bill now requires approval from at least 24 of those state assemblies before the constitutional process can advance. This transmission marks the first time in the current reform cycle that a proposal has reached the state-level concurrence stage.

The State Police Bill proposes establishing a constitutional basis for state-level police services alongside the existing federal structure. Under the proposed arrangement, the Federal Police would retain responsibility for national security, terrorism, cybercrime, interstate crimes, arms trafficking, and international criminal networks, while state police would focus on policing within their respective territories. The proposal also outlines conditions under which the President could temporarily assume operational control of a state police service.

Why This Matters

State policing has been a subject of intense public and institutional debate in Nigeria for years. Proponents argue that bringing police power closer to communities would improve response times and accountability, while critics warn of potential risks to national cohesion and resource distribution. The outcome of this state-level deliberation will determine whether the reform moves forward or stalls at the legislative floor.

Beyond the policing proposal, the transmission highlights the broader constitutional review underway. Of 37 priority alteration bills considered, only the State Police Bill has secured passage through both chambers of the National Assembly and earned transmission to the states. Other proposals—covering electoral reform, judicial administration, and local government autonomy—remain pending further legislative action.

Key Takeaways

  • The State Policing Bill must secure approval from at least 24 of Nigeria's 36 state legislatures to proceed to the next constitutional stage.
  • The bill defines a dual-police model: federal police handling national and cross-state crimes, and state police operating within territorial boundaries.
  • The National Assembly transmitted the bill on September 16, 2026, initiating a 30-day administrative window for states to submit resolutions, though this period is not a constitutional deadline.
  • Only this one alteration bill from the current review exercise has moved forward to state concurrence; the remaining 36 proposals are still at various stages within the National Assembly.
  • State legislatures are expected to follow their own procedural rules when deliberating and communicating their decisions back to the National Assembly.

Conclusion

The transmission of the State Policing Bill to the 36 State Houses of Assembly shifts the constitutional spotlight from Abuja to state capitals across Nigeria. Whether the required threshold is met will depend on how individual state assemblies weigh the implications for their institutions, finances, and security architecture. As the 10th National Assembly approaches the end of its tenure in mid-2027, this moment stands as a test of Nigeria's federal amendment process and its ability to reconcile decentralized policing with national unity.