The National Assembly has clarified that the proposed constitutional amendment seeking the establishment of State Police Services is the only Constitution Alteration Bill that has so far been transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration.
The clarification follows reports suggesting that all constitutional amendment proposals passed by the federal legislature had already been forwarded to state legislatures for concurrence.
In a statement issued by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the legislature explained that the reports were inaccurate and did not reflect the current stage of the constitutional amendment process.
According to the statement, the State Police Bill was prioritised because of increasing public concern over insecurity and growing calls for reforms to Nigeria’s policing structure.
The proposed amendment seeks to create a framework that would allow states to establish and operate their own police services while maintaining the Nigeria Police Force as a federal institution.
Advocates of state policing argue that decentralising law enforcement could improve intelligence gathering, community policing and rapid response to local security challenges.
However, the proposal has also generated debate among policymakers, security experts and civil society groups over issues such as funding, oversight, recruitment standards and safeguards against political interference.
The National Assembly emphasised that other Constitution Alteration Bills under consideration have not yet reached the transmission stage.
It explained that, under the constitutional amendment procedure, proposed alterations must first be passed in identical form by both the Senate and the House of Representatives before they can be forwarded to state assemblies for concurrence.
The legislature noted that the remaining Sixth Alteration Bills will be transmitted only after the required legislative processes have been completed.
The statement further urged members of the public, stakeholders and media organisations to rely on official communications from the National Assembly when reporting on constitutional amendment matters.
The clarification comes as state assemblies prepare to consider the State Police Bill, which requires approval by at least two-thirds of the 36 state legislatures before it can become part of the Constitution.
Political observers say the outcome of the deliberations could have significant implications for Nigeria’s security architecture and ongoing discussions on governance reform.
