Olushola Omogbehin
The National Assembly has said that the proposed establishment of state police is awaiting the concurrence of at least 24 of the 36 state Houses of Assembly before the amendment can move to final legislative action and presidential assent.
This was disclosed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, who said in a statement on Tuesday, said the state police proposal was the only Constitution Alteration Bill so far transmitted to the state legislatures.
“For the avoidance of doubt, it is only this particular Constitution Alteration Bill that has so far been transmitted to the State Houses of Assembly,” Ogunlana said.
Followed the transmitted the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for approval on September 16,various interpretations over whether the transmission covered other proposals being considered under the ongoing constitution review exercise have emerged.
According to Ogunlana, Ogunlana other Constitution Alteration Bills would be transmitted to the states after they had been passed in identical form by the Senate and House of Representatives, as required under the constitutional amendment process.
After meeting the prescribed threshold in both chambers of the National Assembly, section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, stipulates that a constitutional alteration must get the approval of at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly which is 24 states..
As state police proposal has already been passed by both chambers, once the resolutions of the state Houses of Assembly are received, the National Assembly will take the final legislative steps before the amendment is presented for presidential assent.
Already, the National Assembly had asked the state Houses of Assembly to communicate their resolutions within 30 days of receiving the bill.
Clarifying the rumour that the entire package of proposed alterations to the 1999 Constitution had been transmitted to the states, he said only the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, dealing with the establishment of State Police Services and related matters, had been forwarded.
He however explained that the 30 days period was an administrative timeframe rather than a constitutional deadline.
“The National Assembly remains committed to ensuring that the ongoing Constitution Alteration process is conducted transparently, responsibly and in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Ogunlana said.
Under Section 214 of the Constitution, Nigeria operates a centralised police structure which establishes that no other police force shall be established for the federation or any part of it other than Nigeria Police Force.
As a result, the creation of state police requires the alteration of the Constitution rather than ordinary legislation.
However, Daily Sun reported that Concerns have been raised by Nigerians about how to protect the system against possible abuse by state authorities, funding, command structures and the relationship between federal and state police services.
