The House of Representatives has withdrawn its earlier constitutional amendment bill seeking the establishment of state police and adopted President Bola Tinubu’s Executive Bill as the new legislative framework for creating state-controlled police forces across Nigeria.
The decision was taken during plenary on Tuesday after lawmakers agreed to consolidate efforts on a single proposal aimed at reforming the country’s policing system.
Following the withdrawal of its previous bill, the Executive-sponsored Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026 passed first and second readings and was referred to the House Committee on Constitutional Review for further legislative consideration.
The House had earlier passed its own version of the State Police Bill on June 11, 2026, and constituted a 12-member conference committee to harmonise differences with the Senate’s proposal.
However, House spokesman Akin Rotimi said the decision to adopt the President’s bill was informed by the need to streamline the legislative process and incorporate additional provisions contained in the Executive proposal.
According to him, the Executive Bill introduces new measures relating to the structure, administration and implementation of a decentralised policing system, making it more practical to pursue a unified legislative framework rather than multiple versions of the same amendment.
One of the major concerns surrounding the establishment of state police has been the possibility of governors using state-controlled security agencies to intimidate political opponents or interfere in electoral processes.
In his letter transmitting the bill to the National Assembly, President Tinubu said the Executive proposal includes additional constitutional safeguards aimed at preventing abuse while ensuring an effective dual policing system that allows federal and state police to operate within clearly defined responsibilities.
The President noted that the bill builds on the legislative work already undertaken by the National Assembly while strengthening accountability mechanisms for the proposed security structure.
The motion to rescind the House’s earlier resolution was moved by Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, and received the support of lawmakers during the session.
The Constitution Review Committee is now expected to conduct detailed scrutiny of the bill, receive public submissions and examine key issues relating to funding, command structure, oversight mechanisms and the operational relationship between federal and state police formations.
The committee will submit its recommendations to the House before the proposed constitutional amendment proceeds to third reading and subsequent legislative stages.
The adoption of the Executive Bill marks a significant step in Nigeria’s long-running debate over state policing, a reform widely viewed as part of broader efforts to strengthen internal security and improve responses to growing security challenges across the country.
