The National Assembly has officially confirmed that 28 State Houses of Assembly have voted in favor of a constitutional amendment to establish state police services in Nigeria. This milestone surpasses the mandatory threshold of 24 states, which represents two-thirds of the country's 36 states, clearing the path for the bill to be sent to President Bola Tinubu for his assent.

Kamoru Ogunlana, the Clerk to the National Assembly, announced the development in an official statement. He noted that the reports and accompanying votes and proceedings from the 28 state legislatures have undergone thorough administrative verification to guarantee their authenticity.

Background and Legislative Process

The legislative process began on September 16, 2026, when the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill was transmitted to all 36 state legislatures for review. While state assemblies were initially assigned a 30-day window ending on October 15 to submit their decisions, the Clerk's office indicated that reports continue to be accepted leading up to the final transmission of the bill to the presidency.

Addressing procedural details, the Clerk clarified that Section 9 of the Nigerian Constitution does not require a third reading for Constitution Alteration Bills—a requirement that typically applies to ordinary bills.

With the required backing securely achieved, the legislation now awaits presidential assent to officially take effect and reshape the nation's security architecture.