Tinubu Sends State Police Bill to Senate, Constitutional Amendment Underway

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted a Constitution Alteration Bill seeking the establishment of state police across the country to the Senate, marking a significant step toward one of the most far-reaching security reforms in Nigeria’s democratic history.

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, disclosed this during Tuesday’s plenary, announcing that the upper legislative chamber would commence consideration of the proposed constitutional amendment on Wednesday.

Akpabio also revealed that state governments had indicated their readiness to consider the proposal once it is formally transmitted to them as part of the constitutional amendment process.

The bill seeks to amend relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution to create a legal framework for the establishment and operation of state police services alongside existing federal policing structures.

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The proposed reform follows sustained calls by President Tinubu and other stakeholders for a decentralised policing system capable of addressing growing security challenges across the country.

In February, the President urged the National Assembly to initiate constitutional amendments to accommodate state police, arguing that states should play a more active role in safeguarding lives and property within their jurisdictions.

Tinubu has consistently maintained that the current security realities, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes, require innovative approaches and stronger collaboration between federal and state authorities.

Speaking during his Democracy Day address earlier this month, the President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to combating insecurity, warning that terrorists, bandits and their sponsors would face the full force of the law.

He stated that over 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised within the past year and noted a significant decline in terrorism-related fatalities compared to previous years.

Despite the progress recorded, the President acknowledged that incidents such as the continued captivity of some abducted schoolchildren in parts of the country underscored the need for additional security reforms.

The state police proposal has gained increasing support in recent months, with both chambers of the National Assembly advancing constitutional amendment efforts aimed at strengthening grassroots security and improving response mechanisms across the federation.

The Senate is expected to reconvene for an emergency plenary session to deliberate on the bill as lawmakers move to advance the proposed amendment and other constitutional reforms considered critical to Nigeria’s security architecture.

If approved by the National Assembly and endorsed by the required number of state Houses of Assembly, the legislation would pave the way for the establishment of state police forces across Nigeria.