The Nigerian Senate has scheduled Wednesday for the consideration and possible passage of the State Police Bill, a landmark constitutional amendment aimed at decentralising the country’s policing system to address growing security challenges.
Lawmakers cut short their recess to deliberate on the proposed legislation, which seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution and establish a dual policing structure where federal and state police forces operate concurrently.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu formally transmitted the executive bill to the Senate on Tuesday through a letter dated June 15, 2026, signalling the administration’s commitment to advancing the long-debated security reform.
During plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the proposal as a significant step towards restructuring Nigeria’s security architecture and enhancing grassroots security management.
The bill was subsequently referred to the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, for urgent consideration. The committee is expected to submit its report ahead of the planned debate and vote.
Akpabio urged senators to attend the session in large numbers, stressing the importance of securing the constitutional threshold required for its passage.
“Every senator should endeavor to come tomorrow to be part of this exercise. We are going to be live tomorrow and your constituents will be seeing what you are doing,” he said.
The proposed state police framework has gained momentum amid increasing concerns over insecurity across various parts of the country. Supporters argue that decentralised policing will improve intelligence gathering, strengthen local security coordination and enable faster responses to criminal activities.
However, concerns remain over issues such as funding, operational control and the potential misuse of state police by political actors.
If approved by the National Assembly, the constitutional amendment will require ratification by at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly before it can be transmitted to the President for assent.
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