The Senate on Wednesday passed a landmark constitutional amendment bill establishing state police services nationwide, marking a major step in Nigeria’s long-running efforts to decentralise policing and strengthen internal security.
The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for the Establishment of State Police and Related Matters (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 (SB. 1055)”, was approved during consideration by the Committee of the Whole, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
With its passage, the legislation replaces the existing Nigeria Police Force framework with a dual structure comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.
The bill creates a constitutional basis for state policing, including the establishment of state police commissions, while retaining the federal police structure in every state until a state police service becomes operational.
Under the new arrangement, the Federal Police Service will be responsible for federal offences, security within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), national security matters, interstate crimes and organised criminal activities.
State police services, on the other hand, will be charged with local law enforcement, maintenance of public order and protection of lives and property within their respective states.
The legislation also provides guidelines for the appointment, oversight, discipline and removal of both the Inspector-General of Police and state police commanders. It further empowers the Federal Government to intervene in state police operations under limited circumstances, including a breakdown of public order, operational incapacity or threats to national security.
The State Police Service shall be headed by a Commissioner of Police appointed by the governor of the state, subject to confirmation by the state’s House of Assembly.
Section 17(6) states that a state governor may give lawful written directives of a general policy nature to the Commissioner of Police of the state on matters relating to the maintenance of public safety and public order.
Section 17(7) further provides that the Commissioner of Police of a state shall not arrest, detain, investigate, or deploy force against any person, political party, or group for criticising the government, except in accordance with the law. This provision is intended to prevent the misuse of state police against political opponents or critics, ensuring that any action taken against such individuals or groups complies with due process and existing laws.
The bill was considered after Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) presented its general principles. It subsequently scaled second reading, was considered clause-by-clause and passed third reading.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier transmitted the constitutional amendment bill to the Senate as part of broader efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture.
According to the President, the proposed legislation is designed to provide a legal framework for a dual policing structure, enabling states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the federal police.
The Senate, however, adopted a manual voting process after electronic voting devices failed to function despite repeated attempts to activate them for more than 30 minutes.
The decision followed a motion moved by Senate Leader Bamidele and seconded by Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), after efforts to test-run the electronic voting system proved unsuccessful.
Senators subsequently voted by raising their hands to indicate their positions on the bill.
The passage of the legislation represents one of the most significant constitutional reforms in Nigeria’s security sector and is expected to reshape policing, public safety and intergovernmental security relations across the Federation. Vanguard/PT