The Senate has issued a November 17 deadline to four state Houses of Assembly to submit their reports on the proposed State Police (Constitution Alteration) Bill.
Background: State Police Bill Stalls as Only Four States Approve Constitutional Amendment
Key Highlights
- Senate gives four state Houses of Assembly until November 17 to submit reports on the State Police Bill.
- Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele says 32 state assemblies have approved the amendment.
- He says the approvals meet the Section 9(2) constitutional requirement.
- The National Assembly will transmit the bill to President Tinubu for assent, with or without the four states.
- Bamidele says the plan is community-based policing, not state-controlled armies.
Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this on Sunday in Abuja, saying 32 state Houses of Assembly have already approved the proposed constitutional amendment, which seeks to establish federal and state police.
Sen. Bamidele said the number of approving state Houses of Assembly satisfies the constitutional requirement under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, paving the way for the National Assembly to proceed with the legislative process.
He spoke after receiving the Sun Senator of the Year Award, presented by Senator Orji Kalu, founder of The Sun Publishing Limited.
The senator said the remaining four state Houses of Assembly were expected to submit their reports before the National Assembly resumes plenary on November 17.
He, however, maintained that the absence of reports from the outstanding states would not prevent the National Assembly from moving forward with the bill.
“We are now expecting four state Houses of Assembly to turn in their reports on or before the National Assembly reconvenes on November 17, 2026.
“This suggests that next week is going to be decisive and defining in the National Assembly. Whether the remaining states turn in their reports or not, we must move forward and fulfil the aspiration of our people,” he said.
Bill to go to Tinubu for assent
The Senate leader added that the National Assembly is obligated to transmit the proposed amendment to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
“We are now under obligation to transmit the State Police (Constitution Alteration) Bill, 2026 to the president for assent,” Sen. Bamidele stated.
He described the proposed reform as an important step towards addressing Nigeria’s security challenges and promoting national peace and stability.
Read also:
- State Police Bill Stalls as Only Four States Approve Constitutional Amendment
- State Police: Legislation Was Driven By National Security Concerns, Not Political Considerations — Senate
- National Assembly Sends 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill to 36 State Assemblies
Fears of abuse by governors
However, concerns have persisted over the possibility of state governors using local police formations to intimidate political opponents or undermine constitutional rights.
Addressing the concerns, Sen. Bamidele said the proposed framework is intended to establish community-based policing structures operating within clearly defined constitutional boundaries, rather than creating ethnic or state-controlled armies.
He also advocated evidence-based legislation, effective implementation, regular monitoring and periodic reviews to ensure that laws deliver measurable benefits to citizens.
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