National Assembly Secures 28 Approvals for State Police Bill

The National Assembly has confirmed that 28 State Houses of Assembly have approved the Constitution Alteration Bill, which seeks to establish State Police Services. This number exceeds the two-thirds majority required under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates approval from at least 24 out of 36 states.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, announced this in a statement, noting that the bill was transmitted to the state assemblies on September 16, 2026, and that the assemblies were given a deadline of 30 days to communicate their decisions, which ended on October 15. Ogunlana stated that his office would continue to accept reports from state assemblies until the bill is sent for presidential assent.

He also clarified that a Third Reading is not required for a Constitution Alteration Bill, unlike ordinary bills, and that administrative processes are being undertaken to facilitate the bill's transmission to President Tinubu for assent in accordance with the Acts Authentication Act, Cap A2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.