State Police Bill Stalls Nationwide As Legislative Hurdles Threaten Reform

​The legislative push for state policing in Nigeria has encountered a formidable roadblock across the federation. Weeks after the National Assembly transmitted the 1999 Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the 36 state legislatures for concurrence, only four states have successfully greenlit the proposed constitutional amendment.

​The reform, widely championed as a vital panacea to Nigeria’s escalating security challenges, requires the backing of at least two-thirds of the state assemblies—representing 24 states—to scale through the constitutional threshold. However, as administrative clocks tick down, legislative inertia, bureaucratic delays, and outright claims of non-receipt threaten to derail the process.

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​Regional Breakdown of the Legislative Pulse

• ​South-West: Osun and Oyo states have taken the lead by successfully passing the bill clause by clause. Conversely, Ondo, Ekiti, and Ogun are still reviewing the draft copies, while Lagos has endorsed the reform in principle without completing the formal legislative vote.
• ​South-South: Rivers and Edo states have joined the early adopters by granting full concurrence. Cross River has initiated its first reading and debate, while Delta is holding stakeholder consultations and Bayelsa remains dormant.
• ​North: The region is experiencing widespread friction. While Plateau has commenced formal consideration and Bauchi has established a dedicated review committee, several states—including Kano, Kwara, Taraba, and Kebbi—report they are yet to receive the official documents from Abuja. Others, such as Yobe, Borno, Nasarawa, Zamfara, and Sokoto, acknowledge receipt but have yet to schedule formal debates.
• ​South-East: Most assemblies in the zone have adopted a wait-and-see approach. Ebonyi has promised accelerated consideration, and Abia and Imo are poised to look into the matter upon resumption from recess. Meanwhile, Anambra and Enugu have yet to introduce the bill for formal debate, despite regional peer discussions advocating for unified security frameworks.

​The Path Forward

​With the National Assembly’s initial 30-day administrative window closing rapidly, proponents of decentralised policing face an uphill battle to secure the remaining 20 state approvals. Analysts warn that unless state lawmakers accelerate their oversight and legislative procedures, the much-anticipated security reform risks a prolonged legislative stalemate.