President Tinubu Sends State Police Bill To Senate

President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a Constitution alteration bill to the Senate seeking the establishment of state police in Nigeria.

The proposed legislation was contained in a letter dated June 15, 2026, and read during plenary by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

Tinubu said the bill was aimed at creating a legal framework for a dual policing structure, allowing states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the federal police.

According to the President, the proposal is a major part of ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture and improve the protection of lives and property.

He said the new structure would allow communities, municipalities and local government areas to play more active roles in policing.

After reading the President’s letter, Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Constitution Review and directed it to report back on Wednesday.

The Senate President said community-based policing would help authorities detect suspicious movements more quickly.

“You will know when foreigners infiltrate Nigeria and alert security agencies so they can react proactively rather than reactively,” Akpabio said.

Akpabio said the process would be carried out in phases through constitutional alteration and an Act of Parliament.

“We will do it in two phases through alteration and an Act of Parliament. There will be a lot of safeguards; let us come and do this important task. It is extremely important that we come tomorrow,” he said.

The Senate Leader also urged lawmakers to attend the next sitting, saying constitutional amendments require the support of at least two-thirds of senators.

“We need a minimum of two-thirds of members to vote on constitutional alterations. The issue of state police is non-partisan and cuts across geopolitical zones and interests,” he said.

The development comes about two weeks after the Senate passed an executive bill on state police for second reading.

Akpabio said the fresh Constitution Alteration Bill sent by Tinubu would provide the constitutional foundation needed for the establishment of state police.