The National Assembly is fine-tuning legislation to establish state police in Nigeria, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said on Friday, May 29, 2026, confirming plans for a national commission to regulate the proposed force.
Akpabio spoke with reporters after leading National Assembly leaders on an Eid homage to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his Lagos residence. He said lawmakers were considering the creation of a “national state police commission” to oversee recruitment, promotions, training, and conduct of state policing operations nationwide. The commission, he noted, would ensure professionalism, accountability, and uniform standards across state police formations.
“We are looking at ways of creating a positive and not a negative state police, and something that can have a national state police commission that will regulate the conduct of state policing, promotion, training and all that,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President also disclosed that the National Assembly was reviewing measures to strengthen the Police Trust Fund, including a proposal to increase its allocation from the Federation Account from 0.5 per cent to one per cent. The move is aimed at improving police infrastructure and equipment across the country.
Akpabio said the legislature was collaborating with President Tinubu to develop a “workable and positive” state police structure that would allow states to participate in securing lives and property. He added that while insecurity remained a challenge, the country had recorded improvements under the Tinubu administration, with insurgents no longer occupying territory or hoisting flags in any part of Nigeria.
The constitutional amendment required for state police must pass both chambers of the National Assembly with a two-thirds majority and be ratified by at least 24 of the 36 state Houses of Assembly. The Senate has pledged to complete the amendment process before the end of 2026.
