Senate Set to Pass State Police Bill This Week, Says Senate Leader

The National Assembly is expected to pass the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police this week, according to Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.

Bamidele disclosed this while speaking on ongoing constitutional reforms, stating that lawmakers have reached a firm decision to move forward with the legislation in response to growing security challenges across the country. He described the establishment of state police as a long-awaited reform that enjoys broad support among Nigerians and key stakeholders.

According to the Senate Leader, the National Assembly has concluded extensive consultations with critical stakeholders, including officials from the executive arm of government, security agencies, and constitutional review committees of both chambers of the legislature. He expressed confidence that the legislative process would be completed without further delay.

Bamidele explained that lawmakers intend to separate the state police proposal from other constitutional amendment bills to accelerate its passage. Once approved by the National Assembly, the bill will be transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration, as required under the constitutional amendment process. The proposal must secure the approval of at least two-thirds of the state legislatures before it can be forwarded for presidential assent.

The Senate Leader noted that there is increasing consensus among federal and state authorities on the need for state policing as a strategy to strengthen security architecture and improve local responses to crime and insecurity. He added that discussions involving the National Assembly, the Office of the Attorney General, the Presidency, and security agencies have helped build momentum for the reform.

The push for state police has remained a major topic in Nigeria’s security discourse for several years, with advocates arguing that decentralised policing would enhance intelligence gathering, community engagement, and rapid response to security threats. Critics, however, have raised concerns about potential abuse by state governments, making constitutional safeguards a key aspect of ongoing legislative discussions.

If passed by the National Assembly and subsequently approved by the required number of state legislatures, the bill would mark one of the most significant changes to Nigeria’s policing framework since the return to democratic rule in 1999.