National Assembly eyes December to pass Police Bill

Nigeria’s federal legislative body, the National Assembly has set a target date of December 2026 to pass the much anticipated bill that would give constitutional backing to the establishment of state policing structures within the country.

This follows the approval of the constitutional amendment bill to that effect by no fewer than 30 state Houses of Assembly, leaving the National Assembly to complete the remaining legislative steps.

The set target was predicted by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who stated this as he addressed participants of the Senior Executive Course 48 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State, shifting attention to the next phase of the reform, which is securing the required legislative resolution and presidential assent.

The Senate Leader, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, said the approvals have satisfied the constitutional threshold for altering the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

He described the development as a major step towards decentralising Nigeria’s security architecture after over 15 years of unsuccessful attempts to establish state police through constitutional reform.

However, the proposed reform still requires action by the National Assembly before it can be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent. According to Bamidele, the lawmakers would collate the reports from state legislatures, consider their positions and pass the required resolution by a simple majority in both chambers.

“We have set a clear timeline for ourselves. We intend to conclude all these legislative stages – consideration of reports, passage of resolution, and transmission for presidential assent – on or before December 2026,” he said.

Bamidele said the proposed system would allow states to develop policing arrangements better equipped to understand local terrain, speak local languages and respond to the security concerns of their communities.

He stressed, however, that state police would not amount to the creation of state armies or an attempt to weaken the federal government. Rather, the reform would strengthen Nigeria’s federation through state-led, community-based policing supported by constitutional safeguards, operational standards, oversight mechanisms and human rights protections, he added.

Beyond the security reforms, Bamidele raised questions about how legislative performance should be assessed, arguing that the number of laws passed does not necessarily translate into better governance but can only achieve its intended objectives when supported by effective implementation, adequate funding, proper administration and regular monitoring.

Bamidele also called for stronger collaboration between NIPSS and the National Assembly, saying the institute’s multidisciplinary approach could help lawmakers develop evidence-based policies and improve legislative foresight.

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