By Egena Sunday Ode
The Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, providing for the creation of state police has met the constitutional requirement for amendment after 24 State Houses of Assembly approved the bill.
The Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
Gbajabiamila said the approval by 24 states meets the two-thirds threshold of the 36 State Houses of Assembly required to amend the Constitution.
He commended the State Assemblies for what he described as decisive action on a reform of national importance and appreciated the National Assembly for passing the amendment in both chambers.
According to him, in line with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the bill can now be returned to the National Assembly for onward transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
“The approval gives constitutional backing to the policing framework that the Working Group’s draft National Policing Bill, 2026 is designed to implement,” the statement said.
The Working Group said its efforts remain on track, noting that the draft National Policing Bill is currently undergoing legislative drafting review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The review is expected to be completed and returned on or before Friday, October 30, 2026, after which the Group will give the bills final consideration before presenting them to the President.
Gbajabiamila urged all stakeholders to support a smooth transition to a dual policing system that will make Nigerians safer.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
