The National Assembly has transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, which proposes establishing state police services, to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, saying the transmission was made pursuant to the directive of the National Assembly leadership and in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The state legislatures have been asked to consider the Bill in accordance with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly after completing their deliberations.
Although the Constitution does not prescribe a deadline for state assemblies to communicate their decisions on constitutional alteration Bills, the National Assembly expects the 36 legislatures to respond within 30 days of receiving the Bill.
Ogunlana, however, stressed that the 30-day period is an administrative timeframe and not a constitutional deadline.
“For clarity, the 30-day period is an expected administrative timeframe and does not constitute a constitutional deadline. The National Assembly recognises the constitutional responsibility vested in the State Houses of Assembly and respects their independence in the consideration of the Bill,” he said.
The transmission marks a critical stage in the proposed constitutional reform, as the Bill cannot become part of the Constitution without the required approval from the state legislatures.
Section 9 of the Constitution requires a constitutional alteration Bill to receive the approval, by resolution, of not less than two-thirds of all the State Houses of Assembly.
With 36 state legislatures, this means at least 24 states must approve the proposal. The Bill would then proceed through the remaining constitutional procedures before it can take effect.
The state police proposal is currently the only constitutional amendment in the wider reform package to have passed both chambers of the National Assembly, according to reports on the ongoing review process.
More than 30 constitutional amendment proposals are being considered, covering issues including local government autonomy, special legislative seats for women, independent candidacy, traditional institutions, electoral reforms and judicial reforms.
The Senate passed the constitutional amendment establishing state police on 24 June 2026, following clause-by-clause consideration of the proposal. The proposed framework would create a dual policing structure comprising federal and state police services.
The House of Representatives subsequently passed the Executive-sponsored version of the State Police Bill on 23 July, with the proposal securing 311 votes. The House had earlier considered its own version before aligning with the Executive proposal.
Ogunlana said the National Assembly would take the next steps after receiving the state Houses of Assembly’s resolutions.
“Upon receipt of the resolutions of the State Houses of Assembly, the National Assembly will proceed with the necessary steps in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution,” he said.
The Clerk reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to conducting the process in accordance with the Constitution, due process and the respective legislative responsibilities of the federal and state governments.
The Presidency has described the constitutional amendment as a major step towards establishing state police, while stressing that the reform requires careful consideration of constitutional, legal and operational issues.
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