Ondo State Assembly approves constitutional amendment to create state police

The Ondo State House of Assembly voted to pass the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, during a plenary session on Monday in Akure. The amendment seeks to create state police services, a move the lawmakers described as long overdue and essential for tackling the country’s security challenges. All members present supported the bill as it moved through second and third readings, and the motion was led by House Leader Olatunji Oshati and seconded by Allen Oluwatoyin, the APC representative for Ese‑Odo constituency.

Speaker Olamide Oladiji hailed the legislation, stating that a state‑based policing structure would enable faster responses to crime, improve intelligence gathering and allow proactive security measures at the grassroots level. Following the vote, Oladiji instructed Clerk of the House Benjamin Jayeola to forward the bill and the assembly’s observations to the National Assembly for further consideration.

Background

The Sixth Alteration Bill proposes a dual policing system by amending the 1999 Constitution, a change that requires approval by at least two‑thirds of Nigeria’s 36 state assemblies. By late October 2026, 24 states, including Ondo, had met this constitutional threshold, fulfilling the requirement for the amendment to proceed to the federal legislature. The proposal was initially conveyed to the Ondo assembly in a letter from National Assembly Clerk Kamoru Ogunlana, read aloud by Speaker Oladiji on 24 September. The bill’s supporters argue that decentralised policing will address persistent security concerns that have plagued the nation, while critics have not been quoted in the available reports.

Why it matters

If enacted, the amendment would give each state its own police force, potentially enhancing local law‑enforcement capacity and community trust. Proponents claim that state police would reduce crime through better intelligence and quicker response times, especially in rural and underserved areas. The move also reflects broader national debates on policing reform, with the constitutional change requiring federal approval before any state can operationalise its own police service. The passage adds pressure on the National Assembly to act, as the amendment’s success hinges on federal endorsement.

What happens next

The Clerk of the House, Benjamin Jayeola, has been tasked with transmitting the approved bill to the National Assembly, where it will undergo further legislative scrutiny. The National Assembly’s decision will determine whether the constitutional amendment proceeds to become law, enabling the establishment of state police across Nigeria. No specific timetable for the federal review has been provided in the sources.