The Senate says it sees no serious resistance to the creation of state police. It is confident the required number of state legislatures will approve the proposal.
Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu made the claim on Thursday. He said the constitutional amendment will clear the states and be completed under the current National Assembly.
Only Four States Have Voted So Far
The National Assembly sent the bill to all 36 state Houses of Assembly on September 16. It gave them 30 days to act. That window closes on October 15.
As of Thursday, only four states had approved it. They are Edo, Oyo, Osun and Rivers.
The Secretary of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Nnadubem Moghalu, gave the same list on Tuesday. He spoke at the second annual House of Representatives Press Corps Distinguished Parliamentary Lecture in Abuja.
What the Bill Requires
At least 24 state assemblies must say yes. That is two-thirds of the 36 states. Once the target is met, the National Assembly can move the amendment forward.
Adaramodu said the Senate would then proceed to promulgate the change.
“The Majority Want It”
Adaramodu admitted that not every Nigerian will agree. In a country of about 200 million people, he said, opinions will differ.
Still, he insisted most citizens want state police. He said he had not seen any group openly reject the idea. Anyone who does, he suggested, may not want better security for the country.
No Delay Into the Next Assembly
Some fear the process could drag into the 11th National Assembly. Adaramodu dismissed that worry. He said the 10th Senate will finish the job before its tenure ends.
He also hopes the states will respond quickly. According to him, the National Assembly expects feedback possibly by next week.
Only Bill Sent to States
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, has clarified one point. The state police bill is the only constitutional amendment sent to the states so far.
Other alteration bills will follow later. They must first pass both chambers in identical form.
Full Title of the Bill
The proposal is formally called the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026. It seeks to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and related matters.
Calls for reform have grown in recent months. Supporters argue that police controlled by states would respond faster to local threats.
