Reps Adopt Tinubu’s State Police Bill, Shelve Earlier Proposal

The House of Representatives on Tuesday adopted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s constitutional amendment bill seeking the establishment of state police, setting aside its earlier proposal in a significant step towards overhauling Nigeria’s security architecture.

The Executive-sponsored Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, transmitted by President Tinubu, successfully passed its first and second readings during plenary before being referred to the House Committee on Constitutional Review for further legislative scrutiny.

The decision effectively sidelines the House’s previous state police bill and signals lawmakers’ resolve to harmonise legislative efforts around the President’s proposal as momentum grows for comprehensive security reforms.

In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, President Tinubu said the proposed legislation seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to create the legal framework for the establishment of state police services across the federation.

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The President explained that the bill builds on previous legislative efforts while introducing additional constitutional safeguards to ensure the effective operation of both federal and state policing systems.

“I am delighted to present to the House of Representatives for consideration the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, which seeks to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to create a constitutional pathway for the establishment of State Police Services,” Tinubu stated.

According to him, the proposed constitutional amendment is designed to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges by creating a more responsive, community-based policing system capable of tackling threats at the grassroots.

President Tinubu described the legislation as a critical pillar of his administration’s broader security reform agenda and expressed optimism that the National Assembly would expedite its consideration and passage.

“The proposed legislation is a critical component of our administration’s strategy to reorganise Nigeria’s security architecture to better protect our citizens, and I am confident that the House of Representatives will act quickly to consider and pass this Bill,” he added.

The House Committee on Constitutional Review is expected to examine the legal framework, operational structure and institutional safeguards contained in the bill before presenting its report to the full House for further legislative action.

The development comes barely two weeks after the Senate passed a similar constitutional amendment bill on state police, bringing the National Assembly closer to what could become one of Nigeria’s most far-reaching security reforms since the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999.