Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2024 (Creation of a Multilayer Police Force in Nigeria)

The road to State Police: previous attempts

Nigeria has had a single, federally controlled police force for decades. Proposals to let states run their own police have come before the 10th National Assembly repeatedly, both as constitution alterations and as ordinary Police Act amendments. The 2026 executive bill is the first of these to pass both chambers and reach the State Houses of Assembly.

1. 3 Oct 2024 · House of Reps
   HB1713 ESTABLISH AN OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE FOR STATE POLICE FORCE IN THE 36 STATES Nigeria Police Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024 1st reading only Ordinary bill, not a constitution alteration
   Sponsor: EL-RUFAI MOHAMMED BELLO. Ordinary Police Act amendment to set up state police structures in the 36 states.
2. 30 Oct 2024 · House of Reps
   HB1807 Provide for the creation of a multilayer Police force in Nigeria under the supervision of the Nigerian Police force Reached 2nd reading, then committee
   Sponsor: ROTIMI AKINTUNDE OLUWASEUN. Multilayer police force under Nigeria Police Force supervision.
3. 27 Nov 2024 · House of Reps
   HB1920 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2024 (Creation of a Multilayer Police Force in Nigeria) 1st reading only This bill
   Sponsor: Emmanuel Ukpong Udo. Proposed a multilayer police force by constitution alteration.
4. 14 May 2025 · House of Reps
   HB1710 State Police Service Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2025 1st reading only Ordinary bill, not a constitution alteration
   Sponsor: EL-RUFAI MOHAMMED BELLO. Would create a State Police Service Commission.
5. 14 May 2025 · House of Reps
   HB2257 ESTABLISH AN OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE FOR STATE POLICE FORCE IN THE 36 STATES - Nigeria Police Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025 1st reading only Ordinary bill, not a constitution alteration
   Sponsor: EL-RUFAI MOHAMMED BELLO. Re-introduced version of HB1713 (Police Act amendment).
6. 20 May 2025 · Senate
   SB794 Establishment of State Police and for Related Matters (Six Alteration) Reached 2nd reading, then committee
   Sponsor: BAMIDELE MICHAEL OPEYEMI. Senate's own State Police alteration bill; overtaken by the executive bill.
7. 10 Jun 2026
   House passes its own State Police alteration bill
   Passed by show of hands; later rescinded in favour of the executive bill. Source
8. 23 Jun 2026 · Senate
   SB1055 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 (Establishment of State Police Services) Passed
   Sponsor: BENJAMIN OKEZIE KALU. Executive bill. Passed by both chambers and sent to the 36 State Houses of Assembly on 16 Sep 2026.
9. 24 Jun 2026
   Senate passes the executive bill
   Hand vote after the electronic voting system failed; more than two-thirds of senators present in support. Source
10. 15 Jul 2026
    House rescinds its version, takes up the executive bill
    The House adopted the Senate-passed text as its working document. Source
11. 23 Jul 2026
    House of Representatives passes the executive bill
    Reported as 311 votes by NAN; Premium Times reported a voice vote. The minority caucus walked out. Source
12. 16 Sep 2026
    Transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly
    Sent by the Clerk to the National Assembly under Section 9(2). 24 approvals needed. Source
13. 28 Sep 2026
    Court challenge to House passage reported
    Suit FHC/ABJ/CS/2191/2026 at the Federal High Court, Abuja, asks the court to void the House's 23 July passage, arguing a two-thirds majority needs a recorded vote by individual members and clause-by-clause consideration. Not yet assigned to a judge as of 25 Sep. Source
14. 16 Oct 2026
    National Assembly's 30-day target for the states lapses
    Only 5 of 36 Assemblies had approved (Osun, Edo, Rivers, Oyo, Zamfara). The target was administrative, not constitutional. The House of Representatives declined to comment on next steps. Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu said no new deadline has been set and promised the process will be completed before the 10th National Assembly ends in 2027. Source
15. 22 Oct 2026
    24th State Assembly approval: two-thirds threshold reached
    Gombe, Kaduna and Yobe approved on 22 Oct, bringing approvals to 24 of 36 with none rejected. Two came with conditions: Adamawa rejected 2 of the 26 clauses and Ekiti asked for a change to Section 317A(5). The National Assembly must still collate the resolutions before the bill goes to the President. Source