Tinubu Receives State Police Bill After 30 States Approve

The National Assembly has transmitted a constitution amendment bill to President Bola Tinubu, seeking to establish state police services after receiving approval from 30 state houses of assembly. This development was announced during a plenary session on Wednesday, where Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau (Kano North) read a notice from Kamoru Ogunlana, Clerk to the National Assembly.

As of November 3, 29 state assemblies had approved the bill, and the following day, Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), Senate Leader, confirmed that 30 states had given their approval, exceeding the required two-thirds of the 36 state assemblies. The bill aims to amend the 1999 Constitution to decentralize policing in Nigeria and requires presidential assent to be enacted.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North) stated that the six state assemblies yet to respond have until November 15 to communicate their decisions, or their positions will be deemed as withholding approval.