The National Assembly has transmitted the 2026 Constitution alteration bill seeking to establish state police to the 36 State Houses of Assembly, advancing the proposal to the next stage of the constitutional amendment process.
The bill was forwarded to the state legislatures on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, following its consideration and passage by the National Assembly.
The development was confirmed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, in a statement issued on Thursday.
Ogunlana said the transmission was carried out in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines the procedure for altering the Constitution.
According to him, the State Houses of Assembly have been asked to consider the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly within 30 days of receiving it.
He clarified, however, that the 30-day period is an administrative timeframe and not a constitutional deadline.
Under Section 9 of the Constitution, a constitutional amendment passed by the National Assembly must receive the approval of at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly before it can proceed to the next stage.
This means that at least 24 state legislatures must approve the proposed state police amendment for the process to continue.
The state police proposal is one of more than 30 constitutional amendment proposals currently being considered as part of the 2026 constitutional review exercise.
Other proposals reportedly cover issues including local government autonomy, independent candidacy, electoral reforms, representation and reserved legislative seats for women.
The Senate passed the state police proposal in June 2026, while the House of Representatives subsequently considered the measure, allowing it to clear the federal legislative stage.
The proposal seeks to create a constitutional framework for state police services to operate alongside the Nigeria Police Force.
However, the passage of the bill by the National Assembly does not mean state police has been established.
The 36 State Houses of Assembly must first consider the proposed amendment and communicate their positions to the National Assembly.
The National Assembly will then collate the responses from the states and determine the next step in accordance with the constitutional requirements.
If the required two-thirds majority of state legislatures is not secured, the proposed amendment cannot proceed to completion.
