The National Assembly has transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval of State Police.
The bill seeks to alter the constitution to provide for the establishment of state police services and for related matters. It was transmitted on September 16, 2026, by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, in line with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution which requires that a constitutional amendment must be approved by at least two-thirds of the state assemblies, which is 24 states.
The National Assembly has requested the state legislatures to consider the bill and communicate their resolutions within 30 days of receipt. The clerk clarified that the 30-day timeline is an administrative timeframe and not a constitutional deadline.
The clarification became necessary after reports suggested that all constitution alteration bills had been sent to the states. The National Assembly stated that for the avoidance of doubt, only the State Police Bill has so far been transmitted.
The clerk said priority was given to the bill due to widespread public demands and the need to address the country’s security challenges through an appropriate constitutional and legal framework.
The State Police Bill had earlier been passed by the Senate on June 24, 2026, and by the House of Representatives on July 23, 2026. Other alteration bills will be transmitted after they are passed in identical form by both chambers.
Once the resolutions are received from the states, the National Assembly will proceed with the necessary steps in accordance with the constitution.
