House of Representatives Withdraws State Police Bill, Moves to Consider Tinubu’s Constitutional Amendment Proposal

The House of Representatives has withdrawn its own proposed constitutional amendment seeking the establishment of state police, choosing instead to consider a similar bill submitted by President Bola Tinubu as part of his administration’s security reform agenda.

The development was confirmed during Tuesday’s plenary session, where lawmakers gave the Executive-sponsored Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026 its first and second readings before referring it to the House Committee on Constitutional Review for further legislative consideration.

With the Executive-backed proposal now before the House, lawmakers have effectively suspended work on their earlier state police bill, signaling a coordinated effort to advance a unified constitutional framework for the creation of state police services across Nigeria.

The committee is expected to conduct a detailed examination of the proposed legislation, reviewing its key provisions before presenting its recommendations to the House for further debate and possible passage.

President Bola Tinubu formally transmitted the bill to the House through a letter addressed to Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, requesting legislative approval for constitutional amendments that would provide the legal basis for establishing state police services nationwide.

In the letter, the President explained that the proposed amendment seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture by creating a constitutional pathway for a dual policing system that allows both federal and state law enforcement agencies to operate within clearly defined legal frameworks.

According to Tinubu, the bill builds on previous legislative efforts by the House of Representatives while introducing additional safeguards designed to ensure the effective implementation of state policing across the country.

The President stated that the proposed reforms are intended to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges by creating a more responsive, efficient, and decentralized policing structure capable of improving public safety and enhancing security at the grassroots level.

He also described the proposed legislation as a key pillar of his administration’s broader strategy to reform the nation’s security system, expressing confidence that lawmakers would give the bill prompt consideration.

Tinubu urged members of the House to expedite legislative action on the proposal, emphasizing that the constitutional amendment is essential to strengthening law enforcement and providing better protection for citizens across the federation.

The transmission of the Executive bill comes shortly after the Senate approved a similar constitutional amendment proposal aimed at creating state police services, marking another significant step in the ongoing national conversation on decentralizing Nigeria’s policing system.

For years, the establishment of state police has remained one of the country’s most debated constitutional issues. Supporters argue that allowing states to operate their own police services would improve security by enabling quicker responses to local threats and strengthening community policing. Critics, however, have expressed concerns about potential political interference, abuse of power, and the need for strong constitutional safeguards to prevent misuse.

The House of Representatives’ decision to align its legislative efforts with the President’s proposal is expected to streamline discussions on the issue and could accelerate the process of introducing one of the most significant security reforms in Nigeria’s democratic history.

If eventually approved by the National Assembly and endorsed through the constitutional amendment process, the proposed legislation would pave the way for the establishment of state police services, fundamentally reshaping Nigeria’s security architecture and redefining the relationship between federal and state law enforcement agencies.