Tinubu Transmits State Police Bill to Senate, Pushing Landmark Security Reform

President Bola Tinubu has formally transmitted a Constitution Alteration Bill seeking the establishment of state police to the Senate, marking a significant step toward one of the most consequential security reforms proposed since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.

The development was announced on Tuesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary, where he informed lawmakers that the upper chamber would begin consideration of the proposed constitutional amendment on Wednesday.

According to Akpabio, state governments across the federation have also indicated their readiness to examine the proposal once it is transmitted to them, raising expectations that the long-debated issue could gain substantial momentum in the coming weeks.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution to create a legal and institutional framework for the establishment of state-controlled police formations alongside the existing Nigeria Police Force.

For decades, policing in Nigeria has remained exclusively under the control of the Federal Government, making the Nigeria Police Force the country’s sole constitutional law enforcement agency. However, growing security challenges across various regions have intensified calls for a decentralised policing structure that would allow state governments to play a more direct role in maintaining law and order within their territories.

Advocates of state police argue that local authorities possess a better understanding of their communities, terrain, culture and security dynamics, making them better positioned to respond swiftly to threats such as banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and communal violence.

President Tinubu has repeatedly expressed support for the reform, describing it as a critical component of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture. In February, he urged the National Assembly to amend the Constitution to accommodate state police, insisting that the current security realities require a more flexible and responsive policing system.

The President renewed that position during his Democracy Day address earlier this month, where he highlighted the administration’s efforts in combating insecurity. He disclosed that more than 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised within the previous year and stated that terrorism-related fatalities had declined significantly compared to previous periods.

Despite those gains, Tinubu acknowledged that several security concerns persist, including the continued captivity of schoolchildren abducted in parts of Oyo and Borno states. He described such incidents as painful reminders of the work still required to secure the country.

The state police debate has remained one of the most contentious constitutional issues in Nigeria. Supporters view it as an essential response to worsening insecurity, while critics fear it could be abused by state governments for political purposes, particularly during elections and periods of political tension.

Nevertheless, momentum behind the proposal has grown considerably in recent years. Both chambers of the National Assembly have been examining constitutional amendments aimed at restructuring aspects of governance and strengthening security institutions.

Political analysts say the transmission of the bill by the President represents the clearest indication yet that the Federal Government is prepared to pursue comprehensive policing reforms. If approved by the National Assembly and ratified by the required number of state Houses of Assembly, the amendment could fundamentally alter the country’s security framework.

The Senate is expected to reconvene in an emergency session to accelerate consideration of the proposal, reflecting the urgency attached to the reform amid persistent security threats across several parts of the country.

Should the legislation eventually become law, it would represent one of the most far-reaching constitutional changes in Nigeria’s democratic era, potentially reshaping the relationship between the federal and state governments in the management of internal security.