Three more states have passed the State Police Bill they received recently from the National Assembly and forwarded it back for further national legislative action.
They are: Anambra Imo and Ekiti states.
Earlier 10 other states had passed the Bill: Ogun Delta Plateau Kwara and Adamawa. Also Edo Osun Oyo Rivers and Zamfara Houses of Assembly hjad passed the Bill for onward transmission to the National Assembly.
In Anambra State the House of Assembly led by Speaker Somtochukwu Udeze passed the State Police Bill which originated from the Presidency through the National Assembly after three readings in one sitting.
The Bill which is seeking to amend relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution passed through the first second and third readings during Tuesday’s plenary.
It marked a step towards establishing a constitutional framework for decentralised policing in Nigeria.
The Bill seeks to provide a legal basis for states to establish their own police services subject to constitutional provisions and an Act of the National Assembly prescribing minimum national policing standards.
The House of Assembly had told The Nation last weekend through the member representing Aguata I Constituency Anayo Okpalaeke that they were still discussing it and would soon decide on the issue.
The Bill also retains the Federal Government’s policing responsibilities across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
The proposed amendment also provides for exceptional federal intervention in state policing in cases involving institutional breakdown serious incapacity threats to national security or grave abuses.
But details on the organisation operational control certification complaints mechanisms grants and implementation of state police services would be determined by subsequent legislation enacted by the National Assembly and where applicable state Houses of Assembly.
In Imo State the House of Assembly yesterday approved a proposed alteration to the 1999 Constitution to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and Related Matters.
The resolution followed a motion moved by Majority Leader Kanayo Onyemaechi representing Owerri West during plenary. Onyemaechi said the National Assembly had transmitted the Bill to the state legislature for consideration and approval in line with constitutional provisions.
He said the House would be discharging its statutory responsibility by considering the proposed amendment and taking a position on it stressing that insecurity remained a major concern requiring urgent attention.
The majority leader urged his colleagues to approve the constitutional alteration arguing that the establishment of state police services would help address security challenges across the country.
Supporting the motion the member representing Owerri Municipal Clinton Amadi described the proposal as a welcome development saying it could help tackle banditry kidnapping and other security threats.
Amadi said Nigerians have suffered greatly from insecurity adding that the proposed amendment offered an opportunity to strengthen the country’s security architecture.
Also backing the motion Gilbert Nwosu said state police would provide a more effective approach to combating insecurity.
Chief Whip Chigozie Nwaneri representing Oru East said the proposed security arrangement could also create employment opportunities for youths while promoting peace and national unity.
Following a unanimous vote in favour of the motion Speaker Chike Olemgbe representing Ihitte Uboma ruled in favour of the resolution.
The House adjourned till November 10 for its next sitting.
Also the Ekiti State House of Assembly has passed the Bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide for the establishment of state police services across the country.
The Bill known as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill 2026 scaled its second and third readings during plenary with all 21 lawmakers present supporting its passage.
Following the passage Speaker Adeoye Aribasoye directed the Clerk of the House to transmit the Bill to the National Assembly alongside the observations of the state legislature on the proposed legislation.
Aribasoye described the proposed establishment of state police as an issue that had dominated national discourse for more than two decades.
He noted that the country needed an effective and responsive policing system capable of addressing the security challenges confronting communities.
The Speaker noted that Nigerians had repeatedly expressed concerns over delayed responses to distress calls operational limitations and the distance between security agencies and the communities they were expected to protect.
In its report the Committee of the Whole House recommended that the Assembly concur with the proposed constitutional alteration subject to an amendment to Section 317A(5).
The committee said it considered the Bill clause by clause before recommending its passage with a specific proposal to insert the words: ‘an Act of the National Assembly or a Law of the State House of Assembly as applicable’ after the words ‘this Constitution’ in the newly proposed Section 317A(5).
It added that the amendment was intended to recognise the legislative authority of the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly within their respective constitutional jurisdictions in authorising relevant security arrangements.
The committee recommended that the House approve the bill subject to the proposed amendment which forms part of the observations to be forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration.
Also the Kebbi State House of Assembly has acknowledged the receipt of the Constitution Alteration Bill for the establishment of State Police Services from the National Assembly for consideration and approval.
The Bill was contained in a letter dated September 16 by the Clerk to the National Assembly Kamoru Ogunlana and addressed to Speaker Salihu Maikasuwa Dangoje.
The letter was read on the floor of the House during Tuesday’s plenary by Majority Leader Faruku Aliyu Nassarawa Jega.
According to the letter the Executive Bill was passed by the Senate on June 24 2026 and by the House of Representatives on July 23 2026.
The Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) to provide the constitutional framework for the establishment of State Police Services while retaining the Nigeria Police Force as the Federal Police Service.
The National Assembly leadership said the transmission was pursuant to Section 9(1) and (2) of the Constitution and requested the Assembly to give the Bill expeditious consideration and communicate its resolution to the National Assembly to conclude the constitutional alteration process.
The transmission is part of the ongoing nationwide constitutional amendment which requires approval by at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly before presidential assent.
The Bill has been committed to the House Committee on Internal Security for further legislative action.
The establishment of State Police has generated intense national debate with proponents arguing that it will enhance community policing and improve response to local security challenges such as banditry and kidnapping facing states like Kebbi.