At the last count, 13 states have already passed the State Police Bill, which is awaiting assent by 24 Houses of Assembly.
 
The Ekiti State House of Assembly has passed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, seeking to provide for the establishment of State Police in Nigeria.
 
The bill scaled second and third readings during plenary in Ado Ekiti, with all 21 members present supporting its passage, signalling the Assembly’s endorsement of the proposed constitutional framework for decentralised policing.
 
Following the passage, the Speaker, Adeoye Aribasoye, directed the Clerk of the House to transmit the document to the National Assembly, alongside the observations made by the state legislature.
 
He described the proposed establishment of State Police as a matter that had remained at the forefront of national discourse for more than two decades, noting that the Ekiti Assembly had a historic opportunity to make its position known on the issue.
 
Also, the Benue State House of Assembly passed a similar bill seeking to amend the Nigerian Constitution to allow the establishment of state police, adding its voice to ongoing efforts to decentralise policing and address the country’s security challenges.
 
The bill was approved during Tuesday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, Alfred Emberga, following deliberations led by the House Majority Leader, Peter Ipusu.
 
Ipusu urged lawmakers to expedite consideration of the proposed amendment, arguing that state police would strengthen intelligence gathering at the grassroots, improve responses to security emergencies and enhance law enforcement.
 
He maintained that decentralised policing could help tackle security threats, including rural banditry, farmer-herder conflicts and urban crime, while creating employment opportunities and promoting accountability.
 
The Imo State House of Assembly yesterday approved a proposed alteration to the 1999 Constitution to provide for the establishment of state police services and related matters.
 
The resolution followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Kanayo Onyemaechi, representing Owerri West, during plenary.
 
Moving the motion, Onyemaechi said the National Assembly had transmitted the bill to the state legislature for consideration and approval, in line with constitutional provisions.
 
He said the House would be discharging its statutory responsibility by considering the proposed amendment and taking a position on it, stressing that insecurity remained a major concern requiring urgent attention.
 
The majority leader urged his colleagues to approve the constitutional alteration, arguing that the establishment of state police services would help address security challenges across the country.
 
Following its brother, the Anambra State House of Assembly has passed a resolution to pave the way for the establishment of state police.
 
The bill passed through the first, second and third readings during plenary in Awka, marking a step towards establishing a constitutional framework for decentralised policing in the country.
 
The executive bill, which originated from the Presidency, seeks to provide a legal basis for states to establish their own police services, subject to constitutional provisions and an Act of the National Assembly prescribing minimum national policing standards.
 
Under the proposed framework, the Nigeria Police Force would remain the default policing institution in a state until a state police service is lawfully established and certified operational.
 
The bill also retains the Federal Government’s policing responsibilities across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, while providing safeguards for civilian oversight, human rights protection, national policing standards, independent police service commissions, intergovernmental cooperation, criminal information systems and firearms control.
 
At the plenary, presided over by the Speaker, Dr Somtochukwu Udeze, the lawmakers adopted the bill through a voice vote.