Precious Nwonu, Enugu
The National Assembly has begun arrangements to forward the proposed State Police Bill to President Bola Tinubu for assent after 28 State Houses of Assembly approved the constitutional amendment.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, November 3, confirming that his office had received and verified the reports and Votes and Proceedings submitted by the state legislatures.
The approval exceeds the constitutional requirement of at least 24 out of the 36 state assemblies for an amendment to the 1999 Constitution under Section 9.
Ogunlana said the verification process was necessary to authenticate the documents and confirm that they accurately represented the decisions of the respective legislatures.
The proposed amendment, known as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, was passed by the Senate on June 24 and the House of Representatives on July 23 before being sent to the state assemblies for concurrence.
According to the Clerk, the bill was forwarded to the 36 state legislatures on September 16, with a request that they communicate their decisions within 30 days.
Although the deadline elapsed on October 15, Ogunlana said his office continued to receive submissions from other states.
He also explained that Section 9 of the Constitution did not specifically require a third reading for a constitutional amendment bill after the necessary state approvals had been secured.
The National Assembly, he said, was now making the administrative arrangements required to transmit the bill to Tinubu in line with the Acts Authentication Act.
If assented to, the amendment would provide the constitutional foundation for establishing state police services alongside the existing federal police structure.
Ogunlana commended the state assemblies for their cooperation, describing their approval as an important step towards reforming Nigeria’s security structure and strengthening its federal system.
**Senate Passes Six Other Bills**
Meanwhile, the Senate has passed six bills forwarded by the House of Representatives, covering financial crime prevention, recovery of criminal proceeds, federal medical and educational institutions, and sugar industry regulation.
The bills were presented by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who urged lawmakers to approve them, noting that they had completed the required legislative stages in the House of Representatives and complied with Order 78(3) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2026.
One of the proposed laws is the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to strengthen the recovery, forfeiture and management of assets linked to criminal activities.
It also contains provisions aimed at protecting the rights and interests of victims in properties recovered through criminal investigations and legal proceedings.
Another is the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026. It proposes civil recovery proceedings against individuals found with properties or lifestyles that cannot be explained by their legitimate sources of income.
On education, the Senate approved amendments to the establishment laws of the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Item, Bende, and the Federal College of Education, Bende, both in Abia State.
The proposed amendments seek to formally designate Item, Bende, as the host community of the university and the college, respectively.
The Federal Medical Centres Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, also received approval. It seeks to provide a legal framework for establishing federal medical centres in Zuru, Kebbi State; Gumel, Jigawa State; and Monguno, Borno State.
The sixth legislation, the National Sugar Development Council Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, seeks to strengthen the council’s functions and regulatory powers.
Bamidele said the bills were intended to address gaps in existing laws and improve the administration of federal institutions and enforcement of relevant regulations.
Following their presentation, the Senate referred the proposals to the Committee of the Whole for clause-by-clause consideration, after which they were approved.
The legislative developments cover proposed changes to Nigeria’s policing structure, measures against financial crimes and amendments affecting federal institutions and regulatory agencies.
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