By Ade Oyeyemi
At last, the Ondo State House of Assembly on Monday passed the bill seeking to establish state police in Nigeria to tackle the country’s worsening security challenges.
The bill, already passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly, and transmitted to the state assemblies as mandated by the Constitution, had already concurrently been passed by 24 state assemblies by last Friday, thus satisfying the constitutional requirement of concurrent passage by at least two-thirds, or 24 of Nigeria’s 36 state’s before the bill can become Law.
With the passage on Monday, Ondo State becomes the 25th state that has endorsed the bill.
Titled the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, the bill was passed during plenary on Monday, with all members present voting in support.
Ondo’s endorsement comes after reports that 24 state assemblies had already met the constitutional threshold for the proposed amendment, which seeks to introduce a dual policing system in the country.
The Hope reported that reading the debate, the House Leader, Olatunji Oshati, said the lawmakers had carefully considered the proposed reform and its potential impact on security across the country.
He maintained that allowing states to establish their own police services would help address the numerous security threats confronting Nigeria.
The motion for the bill’s passage was seconded by Allen Oluwatoyin, representing Ese-Odo constituency.
The Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, described the introduction of state police as long overdue, arguing that the arrangement would enable security agencies to respond more swiftly to criminal activities and other threats.
He also said the proposed system could improve intelligence gathering and encourage preventive measures against crime, while thanking lawmakers for their contributions to the bill’s passage.
Oladiji subsequently directed the Clerk of the House, Benjamin Jayeola, to forward the approved bill and the Assembly’s observations to the National Assembly for further legislative action.
On the justification for the constitutional amendment to establish State Police, the assembly cited the need to strengthen grassroots security, protect farmers against attacks and improve crime prevention across the country.
The lawmakers gave their approval during plenary on Monday, following consideration of a bill seeking to alter the 1999 Constitution to providebforbstate police.
The proposal was transmitted to the Assembly by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Kamoru Ogunlana, in a letter read on the floor of the House by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, on September 24.
The bill passed the second and third readings during plenary presided over by Oladiji, with the lawmakers supporting the proposed constitutional amendment by more than the required two-thirds majority.
The Committee of the Whole House, after examining the bill clause by clause, recommended that the Assembly grant concurrence to the proposed amendment, subject to an amendment to Section 317A(5).
According to the speaker, the establishment of state police had remained a major issue in national discourse for more than two decades, adding that the Assembly had an opportunity to contribute to efforts to address the country’s security challenges.
He said the proposed reform was necessary to strengthen security and governance, noting that the country needed practical measures to protect lives and property.
His words, “Following the extensive deliberations and thorough scrutiny of this bill by this Honourable House, it is clear that this is the least we can do to strengthen security and governance in our dear state.”
He added that the lawmakers had considered and agreed to the provisions of the bill as presented, expressing the hope that the proposed policing structure would improve security across the country.
Oladiji said Nigeria could not afford unnecessary delays in addressing insecurity, describing state police as a practical necessity rather than a theoretical preference.
During deliberations, the Committee of the Whole House identified several potential benefits of state police, including improved understanding of local security challenges, faster emergency response, better intelligence gathering and more effective crime prevention.
The committee also noted that state police could complement the Federal Police Service by addressing local security concerns, while allowing the federal institution to focus more on interstate crimes and other complex security challenges.
On agricultural security, the lawmakers said the proposed structure could help protect farmers against kidnapping and attacks, improve safety in farming communities and support food production.
They also highlighted the need to strengthen security along highways to protect road users and reduce criminal activities.
Following the approval, the Speaker directed the Clerk of the Assembly to transmit the bill to the National Assembly alongside the observations and recommendations of the state legislature in line with the constitutional amendment process.
The development comes amid efforts by the Federal Government and the National Assembly to establish a legal framework for decentralised policing.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inaugurated the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill on July 7, 2026, to prepare the legal framework for implementing state police across the country.
The initiative followed the National Assembly’s passage of the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, which proposes a dual policing structure comprising a Federal Police Service and 36 State Police Services.
The proposed reform is intended to bring policing closer to communities and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to tackle insecurity.
The Presidency had said states must demonstrate readiness before establishing police services.
Its proposed National Policing Bill is expected to provide national minimum standards and cover recruitment, vetting, training, pay, pensions, equipment, complaints, discipline, firearms control, independent oversight and sustainable funding.
The Federal Government’s framework also envisages a dual policing structure in which the Federal Police Service continues to operate alongside state police, with arrangements for cooperation, jurisdiction and intervention where necessary.
The Presidency has similarly said states must demonstrate readiness before establishing police services. Its proposed National Policing Bill is expected to provide national minimum standards and cover recruitment, vetting, training, pay, pensions, equipment, complaints, discipline, firearms control, independent oversight and sustainable funding.
The Federal Government’s framework also envisages a dual policing structure in which the Federal Police Service continues to operate alongside state police, with arrangements for cooperation, jurisdiction and intervention where necessary.
