The Plateau State House of Assembly has adopted the recommendations of its ad-hoc committee on the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish State Police in Nigeria.
The recommendations was adopted during Monday’s plenary session, presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Naanlong Gapyil, at the Assembly Complex in Jos.
The chairman of the ad-hoc committee and member representing Qua’an-Pan South Constituency, Prof. Theodore Maiyaki, while presenting the report, explained that the proposed Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, was necessary to address prevailing security challenges, police manpower shortages and the need to strengthen local policing arrangements.
He stated that the proposed amendment seeks to establish a constitutional framework for federal and state police services, with appropriate safeguards for human rights, operational standards, accountability and coordination.
“Security remained critical to the socio-economic development of Plateau State and other parts of the country, Maiyaki said and stressed the need for a policing system capable of responding effectively to threats within communities.
The committee recommended that the House support the proposed constitutional alteration.
After deliberations, members adopted the committee’s recommendations and voted in favour of the proposed amendment.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Naanlong Gapyil commended the committee for its work and thanked members for their patience, commitment and sacrifices in considering the important legislative matter.
In the same vein, the Adamawa State House of Assembly has considered the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, seeks to establish a constitutional framework for the creation of state police services across the country.
During the proceedings, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Bathiya Wesley read the provisions of the bill to members for consideration where the proposed amendments seek to provide a constitutional pathway for establishing state police services, subject to national minimum policing standards prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.
The bill was considered during Tuesday’s plenary session, when members examined its provisions and deliberated on the proposed constitutional amendments aimed at giving state governments the legal backing to establish and operate their own police services.
The bill also proposes the establishment of a State Police Service Commission in each participating state, with powers to recommend qualified persons for appointment as state police commanders, appoint other officers, promote personnel, transfer, dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over officers, as well as handle complaints and accountability matters.
Under the proposed framework, the Federal Police Service would remain responsible for policing in states where state police services have not been lawfully established and certified as operational and the bill also provides for continued federal policing in every state and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Members of the House expressed divergent views during the deliberations, with some supporting the proposed amendments, while others opposing them and some abstained from taking a position.
After considering the 26 clauses of the proposed constitutional alteration, the Speaker 24 clauses were adopted and directed the Clerk to communicate the House’s adopted position and progress report to the National Assembly.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Information and member representing Mayo-Belwa Constituency, Mahmud Musa Kallamu, explained the provisions and significance of the bill, highlighting its implications for policing and security administration in the state.
The proposed amendment is intended to strengthen security administration through a framework that provides for state-level policing, civilian oversight, respect for human rights, national policing standards and cooperation between federal and state authorities. However, its implementation would depend on the completion of the constitutional amendment process and the enactment of the necessary laws.
The proposed bill was transmitted to the 36 state houses of assembly on September 16, 2026, by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, for consideration and approval.
Under the constitutional amendment process, the proposal requires the approval of at least 24 of the 36 state houses of assembly before it can proceed to the next END
Veteran journalist and recipient of A.B.C Yola, Reporter of the Year Award (1997), Hassan Umar Shallpella, works with WAP as a Regional Correspondence. He was trained at Institute of Mass Communication and Technology Jos and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Training School Lagos.He was a News desk Editor and a Correspondent at the Punch newspaper and till 2019, was the Deputy Editor ofThe Scope newspaper.
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