Politics · Other · 4 hrs ago
24 Nigerian states approve amendment for dual policing system
Twenty-four of Nigeria’s 36 state assemblies approved a constitutional amendment to allow a dual policing system.
The change would provide constitutional backing for a policing framework that includes state-level policing.
Nigeria’s National Assembly has already passed the amendment in both chambers.
The state approvals meet the two-thirds threshold required for a constitutional amendment to proceed.
The amendment can now return to the National Assembly for transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Separate policing bills are under review at the Federal Ministry of Justice and are expected back by 30 October.
The working group will then consider them before presenting them to the president, and says the proposed system aims to improve public safety.
Twenty-four State Houses of Assembly have approved a constitutional amendment providing for a dual policing system.
The approval meets the constitutional threshold of two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states for the amendment to proceed.
The amendment can now be returned to the National Assembly for transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
The Presidential Working Group said the change would provide constitutional backing for the framework in its draft National Policing Bill, 2026.
The draft bills are undergoing review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice and are expected to be returned by 30 October.
- Who
- Twenty-four State Houses of Assembly approved the amendment. The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill announced the approval.
- What
- They approved a constitutional amendment providing for a dual policing system.
- When
- The working group announced the approval on Friday; the article was published on 23 October 2026.
- Where
- The statement was issued in Abuja. The approvals were by state assemblies across Nigeria.
- Why
- The amendment provides constitutional backing for the proposed policing framework, which is aimed at improving public safety.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The National Assembly passed the amendment in both chambers.
Twenty-four State Houses of Assembly had approved the amendment.
The amendment could be returned to the National Assembly for transmission to the President for assent.
The draft bills are expected to be returned from legislative drafting review and validation for the working group’s final consideration.
- State approvals
- 24 of 36 State Houses of Assembly
- Constitutional threshold
- Two-thirds of the 36 states
- Amendment
- Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026
- Proposed framework
- Dual policing system
- Draft bills expected back
- On or before 30 October
- President
- Bola Tinubu
What people are saying
In line with Section 9 of the Constitution, the amendment can now be returned to the National Assembly for transmission to Mr President for assent.