Nigeria’s state police proposal clears vote in 24 state assemblies
A proposed constitutional change for a dual policing system has met the state-assembly approval threshold, the presidential working group says.
Nigeria’s proposal for a dual policing system has passed a major legislative step. The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill said 24 of the country’s 36 state houses of assembly had approved the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026. That meets the two-thirds threshold required at state level.
The National Assembly has already passed the amendment in both chambers, according to the working group. The measure can now return to the National Assembly for transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent. The announcement does not mean state police forces have already been established.
A separate National Policing Bill is intended to put the new framework into operation. The working group said its draft was undergoing legal review at the Federal Ministry of Justice and was expected back by 30 October before further consideration.
The next decisions will determine how the proposed national and state forces would be organised, supervised and held accountable.
Source: Nigeria’s State House (published 23 October 2026).
