State police: bill to be sent to President Tinubu this week
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Tribune Online and Daily Post
According to Tribune Online, the National Assembly of Nigeria is expected to send President Bola Tinubu this week the constitutional amendment bill establishing state police. Senate leader Opeyemi Bamidele says 32 state assemblies have already approved the bill, above the constitutional threshold. The bill will be transmitted despite reports still awaited from four other assemblies.
Senate leader Opeyemi Bamidele said in a statement from his media office published on Sunday that Parliament planned to wait for decisions from the remaining states before resuming its work, scheduled for 17 November 2026. He nonetheless believes that the absence of these reports will not be enough to block the process.
The 2026 bill would create a federal police service as well as state-specific police services. Mr Bamidele insists that this is neither about forming ethnic armies nor state armies, but about establishing a police force led by the states and rooted in communities, under clear constitutional safeguards. He presents this as a major step after more than 15 years of failed attempts to reform the police system.
The bill still needs the assent of President Bola Tinubu, commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
