House approves constitution bill to create state police

The House of Representatives has voted to amend the constitution and allow states to run their own police, marking a key shift in Nigeria’s security structure. According to a report by Vanguard Newspaper, lawmakers on Thursday approved the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 during a session of the Committee of the Whole led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who chairs the Constitution Review Committee, presented the report and pushed for support, saying decentralised policing is needed to fight insecurity.

The vote was done by show of hands. It ended with 289 members in support, one abstention, and no votes against.

The bill amends Section 214 to create two policing levels: Federal Police and State Police. The National Assembly will define how the Federal Police is structured and set minimum rules for state police outfits.

States must pass their own laws and meet national standards before their police can operate. Where a state police does not exist, the Federal Police will keep handling security in that state.

To limit federal overreach, the bill says the Federal Police can only intervene if law and order breaks down completely, if a governor asks for help, or if a state police can no longer function due to finance or admin issues.

Appointment rules also change. Under the amended Section 215, the President will appoint the Inspector-General of Police from serving Federal Police officers, based on advice from the Nigeria Police Council and with National Assembly approval.

At the state level, governors will appoint Commissioners of Police from serving State Police officers, also on the Council’s advice and subject to confirmation by the State House of Assembly.

Governors may issue lawful orders on public safety to State Commissioners. If a commissioner finds a directive unlawful or against policing standards, the dispute will go to the Nigeria Police Council for a final ruling.

The bill further amends Section 84 to replace “National Police Council and the Federal Police Service Commission” with “Nigeria Police Council and the Police Service Commission."

Next, the bill goes to the Senate. To become law, it needs approval from two-thirds of State Houses of Assembly and the President’s signature.

If passed, the law would create a multi-tier police system designed to tackle banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and other crimes through local response.

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