Five Nigerian state assemblies endorse constitutional amendment for state police

Wave of approvals across the north‑east and south‑west On Tuesday, 20 October 2026, five separate state legislatures in Nigeria formally endorsed a constitutional amendment that would enable each state to establish its own police service. The move follows earlier passage of the amendment by the National Assembly and is a key step toward the long‑promoted state police reform.

Taraba Assembly backs the bill unanimously The Taraba State House of Assembly voted without dissent to adopt the bill that seeks to create a state police force. The proposal, originally introduced in the National Assembly, was presented to Speaker John Kizito Bonzena by the House majority leader, Jethro Yakubu Zikengyu. After deliberation, the clerk, Salmuna Amos Sani, is tasked with forwarding the decision to the National Assembly for further action. The bill had previously cleared the Senate on 24 June 2026 and the House of Representatives on 23 July 2026 (Leadership, 2026‑10‑20).

Kwara Assembly passes constitutional amendment In Ilorin, the Kwara State House of Assembly also approved the amendment to the 1999 Constitution that would provide a legal framework for state police. Speaker Yakubu Danladi‑Salihu read a communication from the National Assembly clerk before the house voted. House Leader Mogaji Oba Abdulkadri highlighted the potential benefits for public safety, and the clerk of the house, Alhaji Ahmed Olayiwola, will relay the outcome to the National Assembly (Punch, 2026‑10‑20).

Delta lawmakers show unanimous support Delta State legislators gave unanimous backing to the sixth alteration of the 1999 Constitution, which contains the provisions for state police services. All 23 members present voted in favour, signalling broad consensus within the assembly (Leadership, 2026‑10‑20).

Plateau Assembly endorses the amendment The Plateau State House of Assembly adopted the amendment after considering a report from an ad‑hoc committee chaired by Professor Theodore Bala Maiyaki. Speaker Naanlong Daniel presided over the plenary, and members voted in favour, citing persistent security challenges and shortages in the federal police as drivers for the change. The amendment was originally transmitted to all state assemblies on 16 September 2026 by National Assembly clerk Kamoru Ogunlana (Daily Post, 2026‑10‑20).

Enugu Assembly joins the reform effort Enugu’s legislature also approved the creation of a state police force, aligning with the National Assembly’s earlier endorsement. The amendment still requires approval from at least 24 of the 36 state assemblies and the president’s signature before becoming law (Premium Times, 2026‑10‑20).

Implications for national security Collectively, the approvals bring the total number of state assemblies supporting the amendment to at least five, accelerating the push toward a dual policing system in Nigeria. Proponents argue that state police would enhance local security, create jobs and improve coordination with existing federal forces. Critics, however, caution that the amendment must include robust safeguards for human rights and accountability.

The next procedural step involves the National Assembly consolidating the state endorsements and presenting the amendment for presidential assent, after which the constitutional change could be enacted nationwide.