President Bola Tinubu has formally transmitted a constitutional alteration bill to the Senate to create the legal basis for state police in Nigeria, with the communication dated June 15, 2026 and read during plenary today by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The proposed legislation is designed to establish a dual policing structure that will allow states to set up and operate their own police services alongside the federal police, which Tinubu described as a critical component of ongoing efforts to reorganize the country’s security architecture and better protect citizens.
Under the new arrangement, communities, municipalities, and local government areas would play more active roles in policing, and Akpabio argued that local authorities are better positioned to identify suspicious activities and alert security agencies promptly so responses can be proactive rather than reactive.
Following the presentation, Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review with a directive to report back on Wednesday, explaining that implementation will occur in two phases through constitutional alteration and subsequent Acts of Parliament and that there will be many safeguards.
The Senate Leader also appealed to lawmakers to attend the next sitting, noting that at least two-thirds of members are needed for constitutional alterations and that the issue of state police is non-partisan and cuts across geopolitical zones.
This development comes barely two weeks after the Senate passed an executive bill on state police for second reading, and Akpabio said the fresh bill builds on that earlier proposal to provide the constitutional foundation required.
Plenary proceedings were limited on the day due to the death of House member Yahaya Tongo from Gombe State.
