The House of Representatives has passed the Executive Bill seeking to establish state police in Nigeria.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the bill was approved during plenary on Thursday after lawmakers withdrew an earlier constitutional amendment proposal on state police and adopted the Executive Bill instead.
The decision followed the Nigerian Senate’s passage of its version of the legislation, bringing the proposed reform closer to becoming law.
This comes weeks after the House had separately passed a constitutional amendment bill titled, “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to Provide for the Establishment of State Police; and for Related Matters (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026.” During that vote, about 288 lawmakers supported the proposal, while four voted against it after Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Benjamin Kalu, urged members to back the bill.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend Section 214 of the Constitution to formally establish both Federal Police and State Police formations across the country. Under the proposal, the National Assembly will determine the structure, organisation, administration and powers of the Federal Police, while also providing the legal framework and national standards for establishing state police services.
The bill provides that no state police force can begin operations unless it is established through a law passed by the relevant State House of Assembly and certified as meeting the minimum national standards prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly. Until then, the Federal Police will continue to perform policing duties in any state without an operational state police service.
The legislation also limits the circumstances under which the Federal Police can intervene in a state’s internal security matters. Such intervention would only be permitted in cases of a complete breakdown of law and order, at the request of a state governor, or where a state police force becomes unable to function because of administrative, financial or other challenges.
It further proposes changes to the appointment and command structure of the police. Under the amendment, the Inspector-General of Police would be appointed by the President on the advice of the Nigeria Police Council from among serving members of the Federal Police, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly.
State Commissioners of Police would be appointed by governors on the advice of the National Police Council from among serving members of the State Police, subject to confirmation by their respective State Houses of Assembly.
The proposal also empowers governors to issue lawful directives to State Commissioners of Police on matters relating to public safety and maintaining law and order. However, where a commissioner believes such directives are unlawful or inconsistent with accepted policing standards, the matter may be referred to the National Police Council, whose decision would be final.
Despite the House and Senate passing the legislation, the state police proposal must still secure the approval of at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly before it is transmitted to the President for assent to become part of the Constitution.
The push for state police has continued to receive support from several state governments. On Wednesday, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf declared that Kano was ready for the establishment of state police, describing the initiative as critical to improving security and protecting lives and property.
“The proposed State Police will complement, not compete with, the Nigeria Police Force. Both institutions share the responsibility of protecting lives and property and maintaining law and order,” Yusuf said.
He added, “Kano State has the institutional capacity, human resources, and political will to establish and sustain State Police when the necessary constitutional frameworks are in place.”
The governor also pledged his administration’s support for efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security system, saying, “We will support every legitimate initiative that strengthens Nigeria’s security architecture and creates a safer environment for citizens.”
