The National Assembly has received approval from 28 State Houses of Assembly for the constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police in Nigeria.
The approval exceeds the constitutionally required threshold of 24 states—representing two-thirds of the 36 states—paving the way for the bill to be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, stating that reports received from the 28 state legislatures had been verified alongside their respective votes and proceedings.
According to the statement, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, which provides for the establishment of State Police Services, was sent to the 36 State Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026, for consideration.
State legislatures were initially given 30 days, ending October 15, to communicate their decisions to the National Assembly. However, Ogunlana noted that his office would continue to receive reports from other state assemblies until the bill is officially transmitted to the president.
He said, “Following the receipt and verification of the reports, the office confirms that 28 State Houses of Assembly have approved the Bill.
“This represents more than the constitutionally prescribed threshold of not less than two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, equivalent to 24 states, as required under Section 9 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.”
The clerk explained that the National Assembly carried out an administrative verification of the reports and accompanying votes and proceedings to confirm their authenticity and ensure they accurately reflect the decisions of the state legislatures.
He also clarified that Section 9 of the Constitution does not expressly require a third reading for a Constitution Alteration Bill, unlike the procedure for ordinary bills.
