State Police nears reality as Senate announces date to pass bill

The Nigerian Senate has fixed Wednesday for the passage of the state police bill.

The lawmakers had cut short their recess to consider the bill, which seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution and decentralise Nigeria’s policing system in response to worsening security challenges

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday transmitted an executive version of the bill to the Senate through a letter dated June 15, 2026.

The proposed legislation seeks to establish a dual policing system in which federal and state police forces operate alongside each other.

At the plenary on Tuesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the proposal as a key step towards restructuring Nigeria’s security framework.

The proposed legislation was immediately referred to the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, which is expected to present its report for consideration and voting.

Akpabio called on senators to be present for the exercise, stressing the need for broad support to secure its passage.

“Every senator should endeavor to come tomorrow to be part of this exercise.

“We are going to be live tomorrow and your constituents will be seeing what you are doing,” he added.