The House of Representatives has passed constitutional amendments to establish state police in Nigeria, opting to defer other proposed constitutional alterations to a subsequent legislative session.
289 voted in favor of the bill, 1 against, 0 abstentions, with a total of 290 votes cast.
Prior to today’s proceedings, the leadership issued a directive recalling all lawmakers away on oversight assignments back to Abuja to ensure the statutory numbers required for constitutional voting.
The legislation, titled “A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to provide for the establishment of state police, and for related matters (Sixth Alteration) 2026,” is jointly sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, House Leader Julius Ihonvbere, Fatima Talba, Blessing Onuh, Tolani Shagaya, and several other lawmakers.
Kalu, who chairs the House Committee on Constitution Review, confirmed that the lower chamber deliberately resolved to prioritize decentralized policing over other thematic reforms due to the persistent wave of terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping across the country.
Currently, policing is contained within the Exclusive Legislative List, reserving all law enforcement authority solely for the Federal Government. The newly passed amendment will move policing to the Concurrent Legislative List, granting state governments the legal authority to establish, fund, and manage independent police formations within their territories.
