State Police Bill: Only Five State Assemblies Have Voted Yes as Deadline Passes

The proposed constitutional amendment to create state police services has received the backing of only five of Nigeria’s 36 State Houses of Assembly, despite a 30-day window set by the National Assembly for state legislatures to make their positions known. As of Thursday, October 15, the assemblies in Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Zamfara had passed the measure, while the remaining 31 had not formally communicated a decision.

A constitutional amendment in Nigeria requires approval by at least two-thirds of state assemblies, meaning 24 states, after it has been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly. The slow pace therefore leaves the bill well short of the threshold for now.

What the amendment proposes

The bill seeks to decentralise policing by providing a constitutional framework for states to establish and run their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force. Supporters argue that officers recruited and deployed locally would understand their communities better and respond faster to kidnapping, banditry and other threats. Critics have raised concerns about funding, training standards and the risk of state governments using police for political ends, and many have called for strong safeguards.

Key points

• Approvals so far: Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Zamfara.
• Threshold: at least 24 of 36 state assemblies must approve.
• Status: 31 assemblies had not communicated a position by October 15.
• Debate: local responsiveness versus funding and accountability concerns.

What happens next

Missing the informal deadline does not automatically kill the bill, but it may slow the wider constitution review process, which includes several other proposed amendments. Lawmakers and civil society groups are expected to keep lobbying state legislators in the coming weeks. Whether more assemblies vote before the January elections could shape how the issue features in campaigns.

For now, the security debate continues on other fronts, including community policing initiatives already run by some states and federal efforts to recruit more officers into the national force.

Photo: Unsplash (illustrative).