311 Reps vote to pass state police bill

By Gift Chapi Odekina, Abuja

The House of Representatives has passed the executive bill seeking to establish state police services, with 311 lawmakers voting in favour of the proposed constitutional amendment.

Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, disclosed that 35 lawmakers participated in the voting virtually, while 276 members were physically present in the chamber.

The passage followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the House Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, during plenary.

The 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 Services and for Related Matters (HB. 2797),” seeks to amend the Constitution to create a legal framework for the establishment of state police services.

Vanguard reports that President Bola Tinubu recently transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, to the House of Representatives.

In his letter conveying the bill, Tinubu said the proposal builds on previous efforts by the House and introduces safeguards to ensure the creation of a dual policing structure capable of addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.

The President said the proposed amendment was a key part of his administration’s plan to reform the country’s security architecture and improve protection for citizens.

He expressed confidence that the House would give the bill speedy consideration.

Following the receipt of the executive bill, the House rescinded its earlier resolution of June 11, 2026, on the establishment of state police services and dissolved the 12-member Conference Committee constituted on July 9, 2026.

The bill will proceed through the constitutional amendment process before becoming law.