Kogi, Sokoto, Ebonyi Assemblies pass bill
THE Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday joined 25 other State Houses of Assembly in approving the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, a move that clears the path for presidential assent and the eventual establishment of state police.
The plenary, presided over by Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, considered the bill after it was transmitted by the National Assembly for concurrence as required by law.
It will be recalled that the National Assembly formally advanced the ongoing constitutional review process by transmitting the Sixth Alteration Bill to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for review and approval.
During deliberations, The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, described the amendment as timely and long overdue.
The Speaker said: “I strongly believe the proposed amendment is a good one for us. For so many years, and at every section by each assembly that has come, we always have a reason to deal with issues that has to do with security of our nation for the security of our people.
So, it is a good one for us that this is taking place and happening in this 10th Assembly. Both the Senate and House of Representatives have done their own bits and sent to all Houses of Assembly. I congratulate each one of us.’
Speaking further after the voice vote that adopted the bill, The Speaker commended the National Assembly but expressed reservation that the current draft still cedes too much control to the federal government.
“Even though we are happy that we are having state police, our interest and position has not been well taken care of in this alteration. As you follow, you would realise that the major control still lies at the central. There is a provision that says where there is a conflict between the State Assembly and National Assembly, the federal prevails.
But it is still a step forward.
“I want to believe that there is hope in the future that will give total control to the state, “ Obasa said.
He thanked President Tinubu for his firm belief in democratic institutions and for supporting the reform.
The Speaker also used the opportunity to advocate for a legislative protection mechanism, proposing the establishment of a parliamentary police similar to what obtains in the United States.
The House thereafter adjourned plenary till 9th November, 2026.
Ebonyi
In Ebonyi, the state House of Assembly on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill seeking to establish state police services, endorsing a constitutional amendment transmitted by the National Assembly.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all 24 members voted in favour of the bill after extensive deliberations and consultations with their constituents.
The proposed amendment seeks to alter the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to provide a legal framework for state police services while retaining the Nigeria Police Force at federal level.
The Speaker, Moses Odunwa, said the unanimous decision demonstrated the assembly’s commitment to constitutional reforms aimed at strengthening the state’s security architecture.
“This will also enhance access to criminal intelligence and protection of lives and properties,” Odunwa said.
He described the demand for sub-national policing as a longstanding aspiration among Ebonyi residents.
“The demand for a sub-national policing system has been an age-long clamour among Ebonyi people,” he said.
Odunwa added that the state had formally presented its position in support of state police during a public hearing organised by the National Assembly on constitutional review.
He said the bill’s passage reflected residents’ desire for a policing system closer to communities and more responsive to local security challenges.
The Leader of the House, Kingsley Ikoro, said establishing state police would significantly increase manpower in the state’s security sector.
Ikoro, who represents Afikpo North West under the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the proposed system would improve efforts to tackle crime at grassroots level.
Kogi
Also, the Kogi State House of Assembly has unanimously approved proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police in Nigeria, citing the need to tackle insecurity, strengthen local intelligence gathering and create employment opportunities for youths.
The Speaker of the House, Aliyu Umar Yusuf, announced the decision on Tuesday during plenary deliberations on the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to provide for the establishment of state police across the country.
Yusuf described the passage of the bill as a significant step towards strengthening the country’s security architecture, noting that the growing threats to lives and property required more effective and responsive policing mechanisms.
He identified terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes, political thuggery and other criminal activities as persistent security challenges that had made the need for decentralised policing increasingly urgent.
According to the Speaker, allowing states to establish their own police formations would enable them to respond more quickly to security threats within their jurisdictions.
He explained that state police officers recruited from local communities would have a better understanding of the terrain, residents and peculiar security challenges, enhancing intelligence gathering and the early detection of suspicious movements.
Sokoto
At the Sokoto State House of Assembly, the State Police was Bill passed, joining other state legislatures in the ongoing move to decentralise Nigeria’s policing system amid persistent security challenges.
The bill was passed unanimously during plenary on Tuesday, presided over by the Speaker, Tukur Bala Bodinga.
Confirming the development, Bodinga told our correspondent that the lawmakers had approved the bill, adding that an official statement would be released shortly.
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