• N’Assembly sends Sixth Alteration Bill to states for concurrence
• 24 assemblies must approve proposal to clear constitutional hurdle
• Security expert warns against politicisation, replication of police culture
• Police reform committee optimistic all 36 states will back State Police
• Speakers seek govs’ input, await formal transmission of bills

Nigeria’s long-running quest for State Police has entered a decisive phase, with the National Assembly transmitting the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to all 36 State Houses of Assembly for concurrence.

The move brings the proposed restructuring of the country’s policing system to the states, where at least 24 of the 36 assemblies must approve the bill for the constitutional amendment to proceed.

The state-level deliberations are expected to focus on the structure, powers, funding and accountability of the proposed State Police, as well as its relationship with the Nigeria Police Force.

The move comes against the backdrop of renewed calls for decentralised policing following years of worsening insecurity, including kidnapping, banditry, communal violence and other forms of criminality that have tested the capacity of the centralised police system.

However, the proposal has continued to attract concerns over the possible politicisation and abuse of State Police by governors and other political actors.

Director-General of the Institute for Police and Security Policy Research (IPSPR), Dr Charles Omole, yesterday said more than 90 per cent of Nigeria’s police leadership remained opposed to the establishment of State Police.

Omole, a security expert, warned that simply replicating the Nigeria Police Force across the 36 states without changing its operational culture and mindset could worsen the country’s security challenges.

He also faulted what he described as the “transactional” approach of many governors to security, warning that political considerations could undermine State Police without strong minimum standards, safeguards and accountability mechanisms.

Omole said State Police could improve intelligence gathering and response by bringing policing closer to communities, but stressed that its success would ultimately depend on the mindset and quality of those operating it.

“If what we are going to have is the current Nigeria Police Force times 36, then we are in danger. It is going to be the end of the country because if we are just dividing the current mode of operation, the wrong culture, everything, into 36, then we are going to have problems,” he said.

Omole cited Nigeria’s experience with UK-funded community policing, saying millions of pounds had been committed over the years by Britain and other development partners to strengthen community policing, but the initiative was frustrated by resistance within the police hierarchy to devolving operational control.

He said the experience demonstrated that funding, legislation and structural reforms could achieve little without a change in institutional culture.

On governors, Omole said many viewed security as a “sunk cost” because it did not provide immediate financial returns, warning that such an approach could compromise State Police.

He also said states would have to bear wider costs, including correctional facilities, while security planning should extend beyond weapons and personnel to education, infrastructure and urban planning.

“State policing is the way to go, but there are certain rules that need to be put in place to make sure it is not abused,” he said.

His concerns are likely to form part of the wider issues confronting the State Houses of Assembly as they begin their deliberations.

The debate is not entirely new. The 2014 National Conference had recommended the establishment of State Police, but the recommendation did not result in constitutional change.

The issue gained fresh momentum in 2024 following President Bola Tinubu’s engagement with governors on the possibility of establishing State Police amid rising insecurity.

The National Assembly’s action now places the states at the heart of the constitutional process.

Beyond approving or rejecting the proposal, the assemblies face the challenge of determining whether adequate safeguards exist to guarantee operational independence, professional recruitment and training, sustainable funding and accountability.

The outcome of the deliberations could therefore determine whether Nigeria moves towards a new multi-level policing structure or retains its present centralised model.

Police reform committee optimistic all 36 states will back State Police
MEANWHILE, Chairman of the Nigeria Police Committee on the Establishment of State Police, Prof Olu Ogunsakin, has expressed optimism that all 36 states of the federation will eventually assent to the proposed constitutional changes required for the establishment of State Police, saying the support of governors has strengthened the prospects of the reform.

Ogunsakin said the constitutional process required approval by at least two-thirds of the 36 states, but expressed confidence that the number could rise to all 36 states. The constitutional threshold is 24 states.

“For us, it is something that they have to work on as soon as possible because Mr President wants them to return it. We only need 24 states to assent to it. And it seems that we might get the whole 36 states to assent,” he said.

He said the immediate priority was to secure the required state-level approval, after which other necessary steps could follow.

Ogunsakin said the apparent embrace of State Police by governors had increased his optimism that the reform would receive widespread support.

His position contrasts with Omole’s claim that more than 90 per cent of police leadership remained uncomfortable with the establishment of State Police.

Ogunsakin challenged the claim, saying there was no evidence from a study or research to substantiate the figure.

“If Dr Omole has spoken to all the Nigerian police and he came out to say 90 per cent, fine. But there is no evidence to suggest or support that,” he said.

Ogunsakin said, contrary to the claim, the Inspector-General of Police, senior officers and other stakeholders had been involved in discussions and advocacy around State Police, adding that officers were not necessarily opposed to the proposal.

He disclosed that a three-day police retreat involving senior officers was scheduled to be held in Owerri, to further deliberate on policing reforms and stakeholder engagement.

According to him, the retreat would bring together senior officers, including commissioners of police and assistant inspectors-general, in a session specifically devoted to stakeholder engagement and issues surrounding police reform.

“It is not a matter of us selling it to them. They are very eager to support state police,” Ogunsakin said.

He therefore urged caution in the use of statistics concerning police officers’ attitude towards State Police, insisting that any such figure should be subjected to research and critical analysis before being presented as fact.

On when Nigerians should expect the establishment of State Police, Ogunsakin declined to give a specific timeline, saying the process involved constitutional and other necessary steps.

He said the momentum around the reform, coupled with the President’s push and the work of the committee, meant that there was no reason to conclude that the objective could not be achieved.

“I am not going to put a date on it. It will be very foolish of me to put a date on it,” he said.

Ogunsakin nevertheless maintained that the process was actively moving forward and that stakeholders were working towards achieving the President’s objective of returning policing responsibilities closer to the states.

State lawmakers await formal transmission of constitutional amendment bills
THE Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has said state Houses of Assembly are awaiting the formal transmission of the National Assembly’s Constitution Review resolutions before commencing consideration of the proposed amendments.

Chairman of the Conference and Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, said the Speakers had taken note of the announcement by the Clerk to the National Assembly that the Sixth Alteration Bill, including the proposed State Police Bill, had been transmitted to state legislatures.

Guwor, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Nkem Nwaeke, said the state legislatures were yet to receive the formal copies of the bills.

He said the necessary legislative processes would commence once the documents were officially received.

“We are still awaiting formal transmission and as soon as we receive it, we will do what will be good for the people of Nigeria,” Guwor stated.

He said the Conference would subject the proposed constitutional amendments to thorough consideration, adding that each bill would be assessed on its individual merits and implications for Nigerians and the various levels of government.

Guwor said the State Police Bill would receive particular attention because of its potential implications for sub-national governance and the constitutional relationship between the Federal Government, state governments and state legislatures.

He added that the Conference planned to engage the leadership of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to harmonise perspectives on the proposed framework for state policing before the state legislatures take their final positions.

According to him, dialogue among key stakeholders would help ensure that any constitutional framework adopted addresses the security needs of the states while maintaining institutional checks and balances.

Guwor said the Conference would keep all Speakers abreast of developments as the process progresses, adding that the positions of individual state legislatures would ultimately be communicated to the National Assembly in line with the constitutional procedure for amending the 1999 Constitution.

He said the state legislatures remained committed to discharging their constitutional responsibilities in the review process and ensuring that their decisions reflected the interests of the people they represent.