In what could become the most far-reaching restructuring of Nigeria’s internal security architecture since the return to civil rule in 1999, Senate, on Wednesday, passed for further constitutional processing President Bola Tinubu’s State Police Bill, 2026.
The upper chamber also passed the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026, a legislation that removed the sunset clause contained in the existing law and made the Police Trust Fund a permanent funding mechanism for the Nigeria Police.
The passage of the state police bill set the stage for a nationwide shift from a centrally controlled policing system to a dual federal-state policing framework.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who led debate on the bill, said it represented one of the most important reforms in Nigeria’s democratic evolution, which would help to tackle insecurity and ensure a stronger federal structure.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu hailed Tinubu on the passage of the bill, describing him as a “champion of true federalism”.
The proposal, which sought to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, will empower states to establish and operate their own police services, while retaining a Federal Police Service with overarching responsibility for national security, terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime, arms trafficking and other offences with interstate or international dimensions.
The bill, transmitted to the National Assembly by Tinubu, scaled a major legislative hurdle after senators considered and voted on its 26 clauses during a lengthy plenary.
Individual lawmakers voted by raising up their hands with Clerk of the Senate coordinating the counting.
The passage of the bill marked a significant victory for advocates of police decentralisation who had long argued that Nigeria’s security challenges could no longer be effectively addressed through a single centrally controlled police structure.
The senate proceedings attracted unusual interest from top government officials and state executives, leading to a procedural debate over whether non-members should be allowed into the chamber to witness deliberations.
The issue generated heated exchanges among lawmakers after the senate leader moved a motion to suspend Senate rules to permit selected officials to observe proceedings from within the chamber.
Several senators opposed the proposal, insisting on adherence to parliamentary procedure.
Following consultation among members of the senate leadership, a compromise was reached, allowing the visitors to observe proceedings directly, inside the chamber.
Among those who monitored the debate were Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Governors Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); and Attorneys-General of Kaduna, Ogun, and Ondo states.
Leading debate on the general principles of the bill, Bamidele described the proposal as one of the most consequential constitutional reforms undertaken since Nigeria’s democratic transition.
According to him, the current centralised policing structure has become increasingly overstretched by the country’s expanding security threats, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal conflicts, organisedcrime, and cyber-related offences.
He stated that Nigeria’s vast geographical size, ethnic diversity, and varying security realities required a more flexible and responsive policing framework capable of addressing local challenges more effectively.
Bamidele said, “This Bill represents one of the most significant constitutional reforms in our nation’s democratic evolution.
“It addresses a long-standing national conversation on the structure, effectiveness, responsiveness and sustainability of policing in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The senate leader explained that the proposed amendment would replace the existing constitutional provision establishing the Nigeria Police Force with a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.
Under the proposal, states would not automatically operate police services. Rather, each state would be required to enact its own law establishing a State Police Service and obtain certification that it met minimum national standards prescribed by the National Assembly.
He explained, “No state police service shall commence operations unless it has been established by a valid law of the House of Assembly and certified as meeting national minimum standards.”
Under the proposed framework, the Federal Police Service would continue to handle national security responsibilities, including counter-terrorism operations, cybercrime investigations, border security, organised criminal networks, arms trafficking and interstate offences.
State police formations would focus primarily on local law enforcement duties, such as maintaining public order, enforcing state laws, preventing and detecting crimes within their jurisdictions, and protecting life and property.
Bamidele said one of the strongest features of the bill was the extensive safeguards inserted to prevent abuse of state police powers by political office holders.
According to him, governors would be constitutionally barred from deploying state police services for partisan, ethnic, religious, sectional or personal purposes.
“The bill expressly prohibits the use of police powers for partisan, ethnic, religious, sectional or personal purposes,” he stated.
He added that governors would also be prohibited from directing police authorities to target individuals, political parties, groups or associations unlawfully.
The bill further provides for the establishment of independent State Police Service Commissions in each state to oversee recruitment, promotions, discipline and general administration.
To ensure nationwide professionalism and uniformity, the National Assembly would be empowered to prescribe minimum standards covering recruitment, training, promotions, discipline, accountability, firearms management, use of force, complaints procedures, data management and professional conduct.
One of the most debated aspects of the proposal pertained to the circumstances under which the federal government could intervene in the operations of a state police service.
Bamidele clarified that federal intervention would only occur under exceptional situations, including a breakdown of public order, operational collapse of a state police service, serious violations of fundamental rights, electoral intimidation or threats to national security.
According to him, such intervention would require written authorisation by the president and would be subject to Senate oversight as well as judicial review.
“The intervention must be limited in scope and duration and remain subject to constitutional safeguards,” he said.
The bill stipulated that where intervention became necessary, the Federal Police Service might temporarily assume operational control of a state police service until stability was restored.
However, the legislation required that such intervention be communicated to relevant authorities within 48 hours and remained open to challenge before the courts.
The proposal also introduced new procedures for police leadership appointments at both federal and state levels.
Under the bill, governors would appoint Commissioners of Police for their states based on recommendations from the National Police Council and subject to confirmation by their respective Houses of Assembly.
The commissioners would enjoy security of tenure and could only be removed after a fair hearing, recommendation by the National Police Council and approval by a two-thirds majority of the state legislature.
Similarly, the appointment of the Inspector-General of Police would require Senate confirmation, while removal from office would require a two-thirds resolution of the senate following recommendations from the National Police Council.
Seconding the bill, Chairman of Senate Committee on Power, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said he was initially opposed to state police but had since changed his position because of the worsening security situation across the country.
Abaribe stated that the realities confronting Nigeria now demanded innovative solutions capable of addressing local security challenges more effectively.
Former Sokoto State Governor and Chairman of Senate Committee on Housing, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, also supported the proposal, saying he has consistently advocated state policing as a necessary component of Nigeria’s federal structure.
Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Tahir Monguno, urged lawmakers to support the constitutional amendment, describing it as a practical response to the security pressures facing many parts of the federation.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, commended senators for what he described as painstaking and patriotic consideration of a historic piece of legislation.
Akpabio expressed confidence that the proposed reform would strengthen the fight against criminality, terrorism, and banditry, while bringing policing closer to local communities.
House of Representatives had earlier passed the same legislation, and it is expected to be ratified by at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly.
The legislation would usher in a new era of policing in Nigeria, shifting significant security responsibilities to the states while preserving federal authority over matters of national importance.
The bill is expected to trigger intense debate across the country in the coming weeks as supporters hail it as a long-awaited solution to Nigeria’s security challenges.
But critics have continued to raise concerns about the possibility of political interference at the sub-national level.
For now, the senate action has moved further deliberations on state policing from theory to constitutional reality, opening a new chapter in Nigeria’s quest for a more effective and responsive security system.
Chuks Okocha and Sunday Aborisade
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