UPDATE: Reps Advance State Police Proposal, Adopt 18 Constitutional Amendment Bills

The House of Representatives on Thursday recorded a significant milestone in Nigeria’s constitutional reform process, adopting a report that advances the long-debated proposal for the establishment of state police and approving 18 constitutional amendment bills aimed at strengthening governance and public administration.

The resolutions were reached during plenary presided over by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, as lawmakers considered recommendations from ongoing constitutional review exercises designed to address critical national challenges.

Among the most notable provisions adopted by the House is the proposal for the creation of state police, a reform that has remained at the centre of national conversations on security amid growing concerns over violent crimes, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats across different parts of the country.

Supporters of the initiative have consistently argued that decentralising policing would enhance intelligence gathering, improve response times and enable state governments to play a more direct role in maintaining law and order within their jurisdictions.

The House also approved 18 amendment clauses covering various aspects of governance and institutional operations. The proposed reforms are expected to improve the efficiency of public institutions, strengthen accountability mechanisms and enhance service delivery to citizens.

Lawmakers said the amendments form part of broader efforts by the National Assembly to modernise provisions of the 1999 Constitution and ensure that governance structures remain responsive to the evolving realities of the country.

The adoption of the report marks another important stage in the constitutional amendment process. However, the proposals will still undergo additional legislative procedures, including concurrence by the Senate and approval by state Houses of Assembly, before they can become part of the Constitution.

The move underscores the National Assembly’s determination to pursue structural reforms aimed at addressing longstanding governance and security challenges confronting the nation.