President Tinubu Transmits State Police Bill to Nigerian Senate

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) State Police Bill, 2026, to the Senate to create a dual policing structure. The legislation proposes moving policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, allowing states to establish their own police services alongside the federal force to improve response times and local intelligence.

The bill follows a 289-to-1 endorsement in the House of Representatives. The Senate passed the bill through its second reading and referred it to the Special AdHoc Committee on Constitution Alteration, with a final vote expected in July. To support the reform, the House of Representatives is advancing a separate amendment to make security funding a first-line charge on the national budget, ensuring uninterrupted financial support.

While Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele argue the reform is necessary to address escalating insecurity, the bill faces opposition. Senator Garba Maidoki condemned the 146-page draft as politically motivated and rushed, arguing that the government should implement existing laws before creating new ones. Additionally, state governors have raised concerns over the sustainability of a proposed 3% Federation Account Allocation Committee funding model and have demanded more control over appointments to align with federalist principles.