Senate sets 15 November deadline for six states to approve State Police bill

Senate sets deadline for remaining states

On 4 November 2026, the Nigerian Senate announced that the six State Houses of Assembly that had not yet communicated their positions on the proposed State Police constitutional amendment would have until 15 November to do so. The six states are Kano, Abia, Cross River, Niger, Oyo and Benue. If any of them fail to respond by that date, the Senate will treat the lack of response as a withholding of approval.

The decision follows an update by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele during a plenary session, in which he confirmed that 30 of the 36 State Houses of Assembly had already approved the amendment. The number of approvals exceeds the constitutional requirement of a two‑thirds majority, i.e. 24 states.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged lawmakers to allow the outstanding states additional time to consider the proposal. He said the Senate had unanimously adopted the position that 15 November would be the final deadline.

Background

The legislative draft, officially titled the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, secured approval from the Senate on 24 June 2026 and from the House of Representatives on 23 July 2026. Following this, the measure was forwarded to the 36 State Houses of Assembly to seek their agreement.

According to National Assembly Clerk Kamoru Ogunlana, the body had obtained and confirmed endorsements from 28 states as of 3 November. The verification process involved checking the accompanying Votes and Proceedings to confirm authenticity. Ogunlana clarified that the 30‑day period given to the states to communicate their decisions was an administrative request, not a constitutional deadline.

The amendment seeks to decentralise Nigeria’s policing system by establishing State Police services.

Why it matters

The bill’s passage would create a separate police force for each state, potentially improving local security and accountability. The Senate’s deadline underscores the importance of securing the required two‑thirds approval before the National Assembly can transmit the amendment to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

The six states that have not yet responded are under pressure to decide quickly, as the Senate has indicated that non‑response will be treated as a refusal. This could delay the overall legislative process and postpone the establishment of the State Police.

What happens next

If the six states communicate their positions by 15 November, the National Assembly will transmit the amendment to President Tinubu for assent. If any state fails to respond, the Senate will consider the lack of response as a withholding of approval, potentially affecting the bill’s progression.

The Senate’s decision was made during a plenary session on 4 November, and the final deadline was set for 15 November. No further dates or steps have been announced beyond this deadline.