Five more state assemblies have approved constitutional amendments to pave way for state police, bringing the number of approving states named in the government’s statement to ten.
Five more state assemblies have approved constitutional amendments to pave way for state police, bringing the number of approving states named in the government’s statement to ten.
However, the proposed reform still requires completion of the constitutional amendment process before the National Assembly can consider the National Policing Bill, 2026.
The five states are Ogun, Delta, Plateau, Kwara and Adamawa. They join Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Zamfara, which had earlier approved the amendments.
The development comes as the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill submits the draft legislation and 29 related amendment bills to the Ministry of Justice for review and validation.
The Chief of Staff to the President and chairman of the Working Group, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the ministry would examine the proposals for compliance with legislative drafting standards and consistency with existing laws.
The ministry is expected to return the reviewed bills to the Working Group by Friday, October 30, before a final review and submission to President Bola Tinubu.
The proposed reforms seek to establish a dual policing structure comprising federal and state police services.
The Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, transmitted to the 36 state assemblies by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, on September 16, seeks to amend Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution to replace the single Nigeria Police Force structure with separate federal and state police services.
Gbajabiamila said the Working Group was committed to a transparent process in preparing the proposals for the President’s consideration and subsequent transmission to the National Assembly.
The reform’s next major test is the completion of the constitutional amendment process, which must precede consideration of the proposed National Policing Bill.
By News Scope Africa
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