The House of Representatives has withdrawn its earlier constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police services, opting instead to consider a similar Executive Bill transmitted by President Bola Tinubu. The move is aimed at ensuring a unified legislative process for one of the country’s most significant security reforms.
The decision followed the reading of a presidential communication by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas during Tuesday’s plenary. In the letter, dated June 15, 2026, President Tinubu transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide the legal framework for the establishment and operation of state police services across the federation.
Following the President’s communication, the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, moved a motion urging lawmakers to rescind the House’s earlier resolution passed on June 11, 2026, as well as dissolve the conference committee previously constituted to harmonise the House and Senate versions of the bill. The motion was adopted through a voice vote.
According to President Tinubu, the Executive Bill builds on the work already carried out by the House but introduces additional safeguards to ensure the successful implementation of a dual policing system involving both the Nigeria Police Force and state police services. He said the proposal is a key component of his administration’s strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and address the country’s evolving security challenges more effectively.
With the House’s earlier bill withdrawn, lawmakers will now focus on debating and scrutinising the Executive-sponsored proposal at the committee stage before it returns to the floor for further legislative consideration. If eventually passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President, the legislation would pave the way for the creation of state police services across Nigeria.
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