Key facts
- Nigeria's parliament sent a constitutional amendment bill to establish state police forces to the country's 36 state assemblies for ratification.
- The bill requires approval from at least two-thirds of the state assemblies (24 out of 36 states) to become law.
- Supporters argue state police would improve responses to local security threats by decentralizing policing powers.
- Other constitutional amendment proposals awaiting approval include local government autonomy and independent candidacy.
Nigeria's parliament has advanced a key security overhaul by President Bola Tinubu, sending a constitutional amendment bill that would establish state police forces to the country's 36 state assemblies for ratification. The bill, known as the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, has been cleared by federal lawmakers and requires approval from at least two-thirds of the state assemblies, or 24 states, to become law. National Assembly clerk Kamoru Ogunlana stated that states have been asked to return their resolutions within 30 days, though this timeframe is administrative and not constitutionally binding. Supporters of the bill believe that decentralizing policing powers from the federal government to the state level would lead to improved responses to local security threats. This proposed change, if ratified, would represent one of the most significant shifts in Nigeria's security and governance framework since the return to civilian rule in 1999. Other constitutional amendment proposals are also awaiting final approval, including those concerning local government autonomy, independent candidacy, reserved legislative seats for women, and citizenship by investment.