Red Chamber approves constitutional amendment to decentralise policing, but limits federal intervention and bans partisan use by governors. Bill now heads to House of Reps and state assemblies.
By Danjuma AMODU
The Senate on Wednesday passed a landmark constitutional amendment bill to establish state police across Nigeria, embedding strict safeguards to prevent governors from deploying the proposed security structure for partisan or personal interests.
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, scaled through the Red Chamber after clause-by-clause consideration and secured the support of more than two-thirds of senators through a manual vote.
The bill now proceeds to the House of Representatives for concurrence. It will also require presidential assent and approval by a majority of state Houses of Assembly before becoming law.
Leading debate, Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele said the amendment was designed to create decentralised policing while blocking abuse by state chief executives.
According to a statement from his office, President Bola Tinubu transmitted the bill to the National Assembly as part of broader efforts to strengthen internal security and maintain national cohesion.
Under the proposal, the Nigeria Police Force remains the federal policing institution. States that opt in may establish their own police services to enforce state laws, maintain public safety and order, prevent and detect crime, protect lives and property, and perform other local policing functions.
The federal police would retain responsibility for national security matters, including protection of federal institutions, counter-terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime, border security, arms trafficking, and interstate criminal activities.
Bamidele outlined strict conditions for federal intervention in a state police service. Intervention would be limited to cases of complete breakdown of public order, inability of a state police service to function, serious violations of fundamental rights, established electoral intimidation, or threats to national security.
Any federal intervention would require written authorisation from the President and Commander-in-Chief, be limited in scope and duration, remain subject to Senate oversight, and be open to judicial review.
The bill drew cross-party support. Lawmakers who previously opposed state police cited worsening insecurity as reason for backing the measure.
Bamidele said the amendment was structured to prevent misuse while protecting national unity:
“The bill generally seeks to balance local policing autonomy with national cohesion, accountability with operational effectiveness, and federal oversight with state responsibility.”
— Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate Leader
He added that the proposal contains checks to guard constitutional rights:
“The legislation contains robust safeguards against abuse, preserves federal authority where necessary, protects constitutional rights, and creates a modern policing framework capable of addressing contemporary security challenges.”
— Senator Opeyemi Bamidele
The passage marks a major shift in Nigeria’s decades-long debate over state policing, a proposal stakeholders have pushed as critical to tackling growing security challenges at the subnational level.
