The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the Executive Bill seeking to establish state police, a landmark move aimed at decentralising Nigeria’s policing system and strengthening internal security across the country.
The bill was approved during plenary after the House withdrew its earlier constitutional amendment proposal on state police and adopted the Executive Bill transmitted by President Bola Tinubu.
The decision aligns with the Senate’s earlier passage of a similar bill, bringing Nigeria closer to implementing a dual policing system.
A total of 311 lawmakers participated in the voting process. Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, announced that 276 members voted physically from the chamber, while 35 others participated virtually.
The bill was passed following the consideration and adoption of the report of the House Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
The legislation, titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for the Establishment of State Police Services and for Related Matters (HB. 2797),” seeks to amend the Constitution to allow the establishment of state-controlled police services alongside the existing Nigeria Police Force.
The passage marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s long-running debate over the decentralisation of policing as the country grapples with rising cases of banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other security challenges.
President Tinubu, in forwarding the bill to the National Assembly last week, said it builds on previous legislative efforts while introducing safeguards to ensure an effective, accountable and coordinated dual policing system.
As part of the legislative process, the House rescinded its June 11, 2026 resolution on state police and dissolved the 12-member conference committee it constituted on July 9 to harmonise earlier versions of the proposal.
Lawmakers instead resolved to proceed with the executive-backed bill, which is expected to provide a more comprehensive legal framework for the establishment of state police upon the completion of the constitutional amendment process.
Supporters of the reform have argued that the creation of state police will enhance intelligence gathering, strengthen community policing and enable quicker responses to local security threats, while also improving the overall effectiveness of Nigeria’s security architecture.
The bill now moves closer to final constitutional approval, marking one of the country’s most significant security reforms in recent years.
