The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, passed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, during an emergency plenary session.
The upper chamber gave unanimous approval to all clauses of the bill, marking another major milestone in the push to decentralise policing in the country.
This comes shortly after the House of Representatives passed its version on June 11.
With both chambers of the National Assembly now in agreement, the bill will undergo harmonisation where necessary before moving to the critical ratification stage.
It requires approval by at least 24 out of 36 state Houses of Assembly before it can be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Governors and state lawmakers are expected to play a decisive role, with strong support from many who believe state police will improve local security responses.
If ratified, the amendment will allow states to establish and fund their own police forces while the federal police retains jurisdiction over national security matters.
This is widely regarded as one of the most important constitutional changes to Nigeria’s security framework since the return to democracy in 1999.
