The National Assembly has taken a historic step to shift Nigeria away from its long-standing centralized security structure. On Wednesday, the Senate successfully passed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026. This action follows a massive show of support in the House of Representatives, where members voted 289 to 4 in favor of the legislation back in June.
Despite a brief technical malfunction with the electronic voting system that required a manual count, the Senate reached the two-thirds majority necessary to approve the creation of a dual-policing system. By amending Sections 214, 215, and 216 of the Constitution, the bill paves the way for both a federal service and independent state police agencies.
A major concern surrounding this transition has been the potential for governors to use local police forces as tools for political intimidation. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele emphasized that the new legislation includes specific constitutional safeguards to prevent such abuse. The bill strictly forbids state police from targeting political parties, journalists, or dissenting groups.
Under the new rules, while a governor may issue general policy directives regarding public safety, they are explicitly prohibited from ordering the arrest or detention of individuals based on political differences. If a state police commissioner determines that a governor’s command is illegal, they have the authority to pause the order and escalate the dispute to the National Police Council. This body provides a final, binding decision, effectively stripping governors of absolute control.
Furthermore, the bill secures the independence of police commissioners by creating rigorous processes for appointments and removals. A governor cannot unilaterally dismiss a police chief. Any attempt to remove a commissioner requires a recommendation from the National Police Council and a two-thirds majority vote from the State House of Assembly. By instituting these checks, the National Assembly aims to ensure that law enforcement remains impartial and protected from local executive overreach.
