Nigeria's state police amendment clears two-thirds bar as 24 assemblies approve

Twenty-four of Nigeria’s 36 State Houses of Assembly have approved the constitutional amendment to establish state police, meeting the two-thirds threshold required for a constitutional alteration, Punch reported (https://punchng.com/24-state-assemblies-approve-state-police-amendment-gbajabiamila/).

Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, disclosed the figure in a statement on Friday, October 23, according to Punch and Politics Nigeria (https://politicsnigeria.com/2026/10/23/presidency-gives-fresh-update-on-state-police-bill/).

The Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, provides for a dual policing system comprising the Federal Police Service and state police services, Punch reported. “In line with Section 9 of the Constitution, the amendment can now be returned to the National Assembly for transmission to Mr President for assent,” the working group’s statement said.

The National Assembly had passed the bill through both chambers before transmitting it to the 36 state assemblies on September 16, The Street Journal reported (https://thestreetjournal.org/24-state-assemblies-approve-bill-seeking-to-establish-state-police/). The amendment is not yet law: it still requires transmission to the president for assent, and the accompanying draft National Policing Bill is undergoing legislative drafting review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice, with the documents expected to be returned on or before Friday, October 30, Politics Nigeria reported.

Sources:

• Punch: https://punchng.com/24-state-assemblies-approve-state-police-amendment-gbajabiamila/
• Politics Nigeria: https://politicsnigeria.com/2026/10/23/presidency-gives-fresh-update-on-state-police-bill/
• The Street Journal: https://thestreetjournal.org/24-state-assemblies-approve-bill-seeking-to-establish-state-police/