Ogun, Delta, Plateau, Kwara and Adamawa have joined other states considering the proposed constitutional changes, while the Federal Government’s draft National Policing Bill enters legal review.
Five more state assemblies have backed proposed constitutional amendments to establish state police in Nigeria, as the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill submits its draft legislation and 29 related amendment bills to the Federal Ministry of Justice for review.
The assemblies are in Ogun, Delta, Plateau, Kwara and Adamawa states. They join Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Zamfara, which had earlier endorsed the proposed constitutional changes, according to reports published on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
The proposed reform seeks to create a dual policing structure comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services, replacing the current constitutional arrangement centred on a single Nigeria Police Force.
Presidential Panel Submits Draft Bill
The Chief of Staff to the President and chairman of the Presidential Working Group, Femi Gbajabiamila, announced that the group submitted the draft National Policing Bill, 2026, alongside 29 consequential amendment bills, to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on October 19.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Gbajabiamila said the submission marked the completion of the drafting stage of the group’s assignment.
The Ministry of Justice is expected to review the documents to ensure that they comply with legislative drafting standards and do not conflict with existing laws. The ministry is expected to return the validated drafts to the working group on or before October 30.
The working group will then conduct a final review before presenting the proposals to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for consideration and possible transmission to the National Assembly.
Constitutional Approval Still Required
The proposed Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, was transmitted to the 36 state assemblies on September 16 for consideration.
Under the constitutional amendment process, at least 24 of the 36 state Houses of Assembly must approve the relevant alteration before it can proceed to the next stage. The National Assembly has already passed the proposal and forwarded it to the states for their consideration.
The approvals reported so far therefore represent progress in the process, rather than the final establishment of state police nationwide.
Adamawa Assembly Rejects Two Clauses
In Adamawa State, lawmakers approved 24 out of the 26 clauses considered during an emergency sitting, rejecting two clauses in the proposed alteration bill.
The Assembly directed its clerk to prepare a clean copy of the approved clauses and transmit them to the National Assembly.
In Plateau State, lawmakers endorsed the proposal following consideration of a committee report. The committee highlighted security challenges, police manpower shortages and the need to improve local policing arrangements.
Ogun State lawmakers also passed a resolution supporting the constitutional changes, while the Delta State Assembly backed the proposal, with its Speaker directing the clerk to communicate the decision to the National Assembly.
Support and Concerns Over State Police
Supporters of state policing argue that decentralising law enforcement could improve intelligence gathering, bring police officers closer to communities and enable faster responses to local security threats.
However, the proposal has also raised concerns about possible political interference, abuse of authority and the need for safeguards to protect human rights, ensure accountability and maintain professional standards.
The proposed National Policing Bill is intended to provide a legislative framework for the new structure. Its progress will depend on the completion of the constitutional amendment process and the subsequent legislative steps required for implementation.
Until the necessary approvals and legal steps are completed, state police should be understood as a proposed reform rather than an already established nationwide system.
