National Assembly sends state police bill to 36 state Houses for approval
National Assembly transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, containing the state police proposal, to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval on 16 September 2026. Clerk Kamoru Ogunlana made the announcement in a statement, noting the bill's transmission fulfills the constitutional requirement for altering the 1999 Constitution after passage by both Senate and House of Representatives.
For the state police proposal to become part of the Constitution, it must be ratified by at least two-thirds of the state Houses—24 out of 36. The bill is the sole constitutional amendment that has cleared both chambers of the National Assembly so far; other proposals such as local government autonomy, special seats for women, independent candidacy, recognition of traditional rulers, and creation of an electoral offences commission remain at various committee stages and cannot yet be sent to the states.
The Clerk urged state legislatures to give the bill due consideration and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly within 30 days of receipt, stressing that this is an administrative expectation, not a constitutional deadline. Upon receiving the resolutions, the National Assembly will proceed with the next steps as prescribed by the Constitution. Citizens can track their state House's deliberations, attend public hearings, or contact their representatives to influence the outcome. Will your state House support the state police bill, and how will you stay informed about their decision?