The spokesman for the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, has clarified that the creation of state police in Nigeria cannot proceed without first amending the 1999 Constitution, stressing that any such initiative must be approved by the National Assembly and ratified by state legislatures.
Rotimi’s statement comes amid renewed public discussions on decentralising policing in Nigeria, as the country continues to face challenges including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, and communal clashes across several states.
Addressing journalists on Thursday, the lawmaker noted that reports suggesting that the Nigeria Police Force had begun steps toward implementing state policing were premature. “Any attempt to operationalise state police without constitutional changes would lack legal authority,” he said.
He explained that the establishment of state police requires a formal constitutional amendment process, involving approval by both chambers of the National Assembly and subsequent ratification by the requisite number of state houses of assembly.
“Until the relevant provisions of the Constitution are amended and duly passed, implementation in the strict legal sense cannot commence,” Rotimi emphasized.
While preparatory discussions may be ongoing within security institutions, Rotimi stressed that no official rollout of state police can occur until the constitutional framework is in place. He noted that these preliminary consultations are expected, especially given that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has publicly supported the creation of state police.
The lawmaker also revealed that proposals for state police are part of over 40 constitutional amendment bills currently under review by the National Assembly. He explained that multiple bills on the issue were harmonised into a single draft by the House Committee on Constitution Review, led by Benjamin Kalu.
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Rotimi, who is among the principal sponsors of the legislation, said the process involved extensive stakeholder consultations with security agencies, state governments, civil society organisations, and the public. Nationwide hearings included representatives of the Nigeria Police Force and other key agencies, whose inputs were considered in shaping the proposed reforms.
He added that the National Assembly is taking a cautious approach to ensure that any framework for state policing includes clear safeguards, defines jurisdictional boundaries, sets funding structures, establishes accountability mechanisms, and outlines potential federal oversight.
“The aim is to create a constitutional provision that strengthens security without compromising national unity or constitutional order,” Rotimi said, stressing that lawmakers are committed to carefully balancing reform with legal and institutional safeguards.
