A constitutional amendment establishing State Police Services sailed through the House of Representatives yesterday, marking the biggest step yet towards overhauling Nigeria’s policing architecture after years of debate over the need to decentralise law enforcement.
The landmark reform, however, was immediately overshadowed by a walkout by minority lawmakers, who accused the House leadership of breaching constitutional procedures during its passage, even as supporters insisted the bill contains safeguards designed to prevent political abuse.
The bill, 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 Services and for Related Matters (HB.2797)’, was considered by the Committee of the Whole before securing the constitutionally required two-thirds majority.
President Bola Tinubu had transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, to the House, seeking constitutional approval for the establishment of state police services across the country.
The President said the proposed legislation seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide the legal framework for the creation of state police as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
Presenting the committee’s report on the floor of the House, the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Benjamin Kalu, described the proposal as a landmark reform aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture
