By Seun Ibiyemi
The National Assembly has commenced administrative processes to transmit the State Police Bill to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent following its approval by 35 State Houses of Assembly.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed this in Abuja, noting that the number of state legislatures that had approved the proposed constitutional amendment had exceeded the constitutionally required threshold of 24 states.
Katsina State is the only state yet to communicate its concurrence with the proposed amendment, while 35 Houses of Assembly have approved the legislation.
Ogunlana said the National Assembly had received reports confirming approval by the required number of state legislatures and was making the necessary administrative arrangements to transmit the bill to the President in accordance with the Acts Authentication Act, CAP A2, (LEN) 2004.
He said, “In view of the approvals secured from the required number of Houses of Assembly, the necessary administrative processes are being undertaken to facilitate the transmission of the Bill to the President for assent.”
The proposed legislation seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and related matters.
The bill was transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly on September 16 for consideration and approval, with the state legislatures initially requested to communicate their decisions to the National Assembly within 30 days.
The deadline expired on October 15. However, Ogunlana clarified that his office would continue to receive reports from state assemblies beyond the deadline until the bill was transmitted for presidential assent.
The Clerk also clarified the legislative procedure governing constitutional amendments, explaining that Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution does not expressly require a Third Reading for a Constitution Alteration Bill.
According to him, the procedure differs from that applicable to ordinary bills, stressing that the constitutional amendment process should not be subjected to requirements that are not expressly provided for under the Constitution.
He said, “It is pertinent to clarify that Section 9 of the Constitution does not expressly prescribe a Third Reading for a Constitution Alteration Bill, unlike the procedure applicable to ordinary Bills.”
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Under the proposed amendment, individual states would be constitutionally empowered to establish and operate police services within their jurisdictions, subject to the provisions of the amended Constitution.
The proposed creation of state police has featured prominently in national discussions on security sector reforms, particularly amid persistent challenges involving kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and other criminal activities across the country.
Supporters of the proposal have argued that decentralising policing could improve security response by bringing law enforcement closer to local communities and enabling states to address security threats within their territories.
The constitutional amendment is also expected to reshape Nigeria’s federal policing structure by providing a legal framework for state-level police formations alongside existing national security arrangements.
Ogunlana said the approval process demonstrated the cooperation of the State Houses of Assembly in considering the proposed constitutional amendment.
He added, “The National Assembly appreciates the cooperation and timely response of the State Houses of Assembly in the consideration of this important constitutional amendment, which represents a significant step in the ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and deepen the country’s federal system.”
He assured Nigerians that the Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly would continue to provide timely and accurate information on developments relating to the constitutional amendment process.
The transmission of the bill to President Tinubu for assent will mark the next stage in the legislative process towards establishing state police in Nigeria.
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