State police bill gets 11 states’ backing, 13 more needed

The push to establish state police in Nigeria has gained further support, with the Houses of Assembly in Taraba, Kwara and Delta approving the proposed constitutional amendment, although 13 more states must endorse it before the process can advance.
The latest approvals bring the reported number of supporting states to at least 11 out of the 36 states, as lawmakers continue to consider the bill.
In Delta State, all 23 lawmakers present voted in favour of the sixth constitutional alteration bill on Tuesday. The assemblies in Taraba and Kwara also approved the proposal unanimously.
However, reports on the number of states that have endorsed the bill differ. Daily Trust listed 10 states as of Tuesday: Edo, Oyo, Zamfara, Rivers, Delta, Plateau, Kwara, Ogun, Nasarawa and Osun. Its list did not include Taraba, leaving the precise tally subject to confirmation from the respective assemblies.
Under Section 9(2) of the Constitution, a constitutional amendment requires approval from at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly, meaning 24 states in this case.
Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu said the National Assembly would proceed with the final stage once the required number of states had approved the proposal.
“We only need 24 State Houses of Assembly to consent,” he said, adding that the Senate was not under pressure to conclude the process.
The latest developments follow a slow start to the ratification exercise. Only five state assemblies had reportedly approved the bill by October 15, when the National Assembly’s 30-day administrative window expired.
The deadline’s expiration did not invalidate the process, as the National Assembly’s clerk had explained that the period was administrative rather than constitutionally binding.
Zamfara was among the early states to approve the proposal. The state assembly’s spokesman, Nasiru Bilya-Buki, confirmed that the bill had been forwarded to the National Assembly as requested.
Despite the recent approvals, some states have yet to conclude their consideration of the proposal. The Kano State House of Assembly has referred the bill to a committee, while earlier reports indicated that several South-East assemblies had not begun deliberations.
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has expressed optimism that all 36 assemblies would approve the proposal, although the reported figures show that the process remains incomplete.
Even if the constitutional amendment secures the required number of approvals, states would still need to enact their own laws to establish and regulate their police services.
Such legislation would need to address issues including recruitment, funding and operational responsibilities.
The Plateau State House of Assembly, which has already endorsed the bill, said its lawmakers had consistently advocated the establishment of state police.
The next stage of the process will depend on whether the remaining state assemblies approve the proposal and the constitutional requirements for the amendment are met.