State Police: Gombe Assembly Passes Constitutional Amendment Bill

The Gombe State House of Assembly has passed the 1999 Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, in support of establishing state police to strengthen security nationwide.

The bill, comprising 26 clauses, was transmitted to the state assembly by the National Assembly on October 6, 2026, for concurrence in line with Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Constitution to establish a legal framework for a State Police Service, distinct from the Nigeria Police Force and under federal control.

LEADERSHIP reports that the assembly passed the bill on Thursday after considering the report of its Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.

Upon receipt of the bill, the House constituted a seven-member ad hoc committee, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Sadam Bello Sale, to examine the proposed amendments.

Presenting the committee’s report, Sale said members had consulted relevant stakeholders as part of their review of the bill.

He added that the report received the support of a two-thirds majority of members, in accordance with Order 17, Rule 3 of the Gombe State House of Assembly Standing Orders, 2020.

During Thursday’s plenary, lawmakers considered the report at the Committee of the Whole. They adopted recommendations to amend various provisions of the Constitution, including those relating to the establishment and operation of state police services separate from the federal police.

The passage places Gombe among the states whose legislatures have endorsed the proposed constitutional changes to establish state police as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s security challenges.

Commenting on the bill, the Speaker of the House, Abubakar Muhammad Luggerewo, said members unanimously supported the proposed legal framework for establishing state police, noting that it would strengthen security in the country.

He commended the lawmakers for their commitment and resilience.

The seven-member committee comprises Hon. Sadam Bello Sale, Hon. Musa Buaba, Hon. Shuaibu Adamu Haruna, Hon. Golkos Gaius Gaji, Hon. Abdullahi Abubakar, Hon. Muhammad Tahir and Hon. Adamu Sale Pata.

Barr. Hauwa Abdullahi and Barr. Babadidi J. Mele served as secretaries to the committee.