State Police: State Speakers Pledge Fast-Track Review as National Assembly Passes Historic State Police Bill

In what is being hailed as an extraordinary watershed moment for the geopolitical structure of the Federation, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures has formally thrown its weight behind the National Assembly following the historic passage of the Constitution Alteration Bill to establish state-controlled police forces

Chairman of the Conference and Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Dennis Guwor, said state legislatures across the country would subject the proposed constitutional amendment to thorough scrutiny as it moves to the next stage of the legislative process.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Asaba, Guwor described the passage of the bill as a major milestone in national conversations around security, policing reforms and the need to bring law enforcement closer to local communities.

He noted that state assemblies have consistently supported calls for community-based policing, arguing that decentralising law enforcement would improve response times and enable security agencies to better address the unique challenges facing different parts of the country.

“Nigerians deserve a policing structure that understands the local terrain and evolving security realities,” Guwor stated.

The Speakers Conference chairman assured citizens that state legislatures would approach the proposed amendment with diligence and a strong sense of responsibility, given its far-reaching implications for governance and national security.

According to him, lawmakers at the sub-national level will engage key stakeholders and organise public hearings where necessary before arriving at formal positions on the proposal.

He stressed that broad consultations would remain essential to ensuring that any reform enjoys public confidence and addresses concerns surrounding implementation, oversight and accountability.

Guwor also commended the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, for advancing the legislation and urged all stakeholders to sustain constructive engagement as the constitutional amendment process progresses.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Conference of Speakers to working with relevant institutions and stakeholders to strengthen governance structures and improve security outcomes across the federation.

The Senate on Wednesday passed the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to decentralise policing by empowering states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force.

The legislation, titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for State Police and Related Matters, 2026,” was approved following clause-by-clause consideration by lawmakers.

The development came weeks after the House of Representatives passed the same bill on June 11, paving the way for the next constitutional amendment stage, which requires consideration and approval by at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly.

The proposed reform is widely regarded as one of the most consequential security and constitutional changes since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule, with supporters arguing that state-controlled policing could enhance intelligence gathering, improve local security responses and address the growing complexity of insecurity across the country.

As the bill heads to state legislatures, attention is expected to shift to how lawmakers across the federation navigate concerns over operational control, funding mechanisms, accountability safeguards and potential abuse of state policing powers.