Kano and Jigawa Assemblies Approve Constitutional Amendments for State Police

Kano and Jigawa Assemblies Approve State Police Amendments

On 27 October 2026, the Kano State House of Assembly and the Jigawa State House of Assembly both passed bills that amend the 1999 Constitution to permit state governments to establish and operate their own police forces. The Kano Assembly’s decision was confirmed by Majority Leader Lawan Hussaini Dala, while the Jigawa Assembly’s approval was announced by Speaker Haruna Aliyu Dangyatin. The two state legislatures held plenary sessions on the same day. In Kano, lawmakers considered clauses one to 26 of the proposed amendment in the Committee of the Whole before voting. In Jigawa, the bill had already passed the national Senate and House of Representatives and was transmitted to the state assembly for consideration. Both assemblies cited the aim of strengthening community policing and improving security at the grassroots level as the primary motivation for the amendments.

Background

The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended, currently centralises policing under the federal government. Recent discussions have focused on decentralising policing to give states greater control over security matters. The National Assembly has directed state legislatures to respond within 30 days to a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow state police forces. The Kano and Jigawa assemblies were among the first to act on this directive. In Kano, the majority leader stated that the amendment would provide the legal framework for state police. In Jigawa, the speaker explained that the amendment would enable state governments to protect lives and property more effectively by taking responsibility for security within their jurisdictions.

Why it matters

The approval of these amendments signals a shift in Nigeria’s approach to policing. By allowing states to create their own police forces, the amendments could lead to more responsive and locally tailored security arrangements. The move is part of a broader effort to decentralise policing and strengthen state capacity to address security challenges. The decisions also reflect the national legislative process, where the National Assembly has already passed the amendment and set a 30‑day deadline for state legislatures to indicate support or opposition. The passage by Kano and Jigawa demonstrates early state-level endorsement of the proposal.

What happens next

Following the state approvals, the amendments will need to be ratified by the national legislature and possibly by a national referendum, as required for constitutional changes. The state assemblies have not yet announced specific timelines for implementation or for the establishment of state police forces. No further steps were detailed in the sources.

The approvals also raise questions about how the new state police forces will be funded, trained, and integrated with existing federal policing structures. However, the sources do not provide details on these operational aspects.