State Police Bill: NASS Moves Towards Next Stage — Bamidele

The National Assembly is preparing to advance the proposed State Police Bill after 32 State Houses of Assembly approved the constitutional amendment required to establish state police in Nigeria.

Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this on Sunday, November 15, 2026, saying the remaining four state assemblies had until Tuesday, November 17, to submit their reports ahead of the National Assembly’s resumption.

According to Bamidele, the approvals have exceeded the constitutional requirement of two-thirds of the 36 state assemblies, representing at least 24 states.

He explained that the proposed constitutional amendment had therefore crossed a major legislative requirement, bringing the country closer to the establishment of state police.

The Senate leader said the National Assembly was expecting the reports from the remaining four states before proceeding with the next stage of the process.

He described the development as a significant step towards addressing Nigeria’s longstanding security challenges, noting that the proposal had moved beyond years of political debate.

The proposed amendment is intended to provide constitutional backing for state governments to establish their own police structures, subject to the legal framework and safeguards to be established.

Bamidele made the disclosure in a statement issued in Abuja after receiving The Sun Senator of the Year Award for his contributions to parliamentary leadership and lawmaking.

The proposal has generated considerable debate, particularly over concerns about the possible politicisation of state police, funding, accountability and the protection of citizens’ rights.

Supporters argue that state-level policing could improve local intelligence gathering and response to security threats, while critics have called for strong constitutional safeguards to prevent abuse.

The National Assembly is expected to determine the next steps after receiving the outstanding reports from the state assemblies.