Oyo Assembly Backs State Police Bill

The Oyo State House of Assembly has backed the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish State Police Services across Nigeria.

The development comes as state legislatures begin considering the bill transmitted by the National Assembly as part of the constitutional amendment process.

The proposed legislation seeks to create a legal framework allowing individual states to establish and operate their own police services while retaining the Nigeria Police Force as the federal police service.

The move is part of ongoing efforts to decentralise Nigeria’s policing structure and improve responses to security challenges at the state and local levels.

The National Assembly passed the State Police Bill earlier in 2026. The Senate approved the proposal on June 24, while the House of Representatives passed it on July 23.

The bill was subsequently transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval. Under the constitutional amendment process, the proposal requires approval by at least two-thirds of the state legislatures before it can proceed to the next stage.

The proposed framework provides for a dual policing structure involving Federal Police Services and State Police Services. It also includes provisions covering operational responsibilities, oversight, minimum standards and safeguards intended to regulate the relationship between federal and state authorities.

Supporters of the reform argue that state police could improve local intelligence gathering and enable security agencies to respond more quickly to threats within communities.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has previously called for the establishment of state police, describing decentralised policing as a way to strengthen local security and improve responses to criminal activities.

The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, had also previously expressed support for state police, saying the initiative could complement the existing federal policing structure.

However, the proposed reform has generated debate over issues including political control, funding, recruitment, accountability and protection of citizens’ rights.

The bill contains safeguards intended to address some of these concerns, including provisions relating to oversight and the continued role of the federal police.

The Oyo Assembly’s position forms part of the wider consideration by state legislatures, whose decisions will determine whether the constitutional amendment secures the required level of state support.

As the process continues, lawmakers across the country are expected to scrutinise the proposed framework before taking their respective decisions.