State Police: NASS set to transmit invoice to Tinubu for assent

The National Assembly disclosed Tuesday that it has acquired experiences from 28 State Houses of Assembly approving the proposed constitutional modification for the institution of state police, clearing the way in which for the transmission of the invoice to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

The 28 approvals exceed the constitutional requirement of 24 states, representing two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, for an alteration of the 1999 Constitution to be effected.

Making the disclosure in a press release personally signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, mentioned his workplace had accomplished the executive verification of the experiences and accompanying Votes and Proceedings submitted by the state legislatures.

According to him, the verification was undertaken to determine the authenticity of the paperwork and make sure that they precisely mirrored the choices taken by the respective assemblies.

The assertion mentioned, “Following the receipt and verification of the experiences, the Office confirms that 28 State Houses of Assembly have accredited the Bill.

“This represents more than the constitutionally prescribed threshold of not less than two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, equivalent to 24 States, as required under Section 9 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.”

The state police invoice, formally referred to as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, was handed by the Senate on June 24, 2026, and subsequently by the House of Representatives on July 23, 2026, earlier than being transmitted to the 36 state assemblies for concurrence.

Ogunlana recalled that the invoice was transmitted to the state legislatures on September 16, 2026, for consideration and approval, with a request that they convey their choices to the National Assembly inside 30 days.

The stipulated interval elapsed on October 15, however Ogunlana mentioned his workplace would proceed to obtain experiences from the state assemblies till the invoice was transmitted for presidential assent.

“It is pertinent to clarify that Section 9 of the Constitution does not expressly prescribe a Third Reading for a Constitution Alteration Bill, unlike the procedure applicable to ordinary Bills,” he mentioned.

On the subsequent stage of the method, the Clerk added, “In view of the approvals secured from the required number of State Houses of Assembly, the necessary administrative processes are being undertaken to facilitate the transmission of the Bill to His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for assent, in accordance with the Acts Authentication Act, CAP A2, (LFN) 2004.”

The institution of state police is a part of ongoing efforts to decentralise Nigeria’s policing system and strengthen the nation’s response to safety challenges.

It is anticipated to offer the authorized framework for the institution of state police providers alongside the present federal police construction.

Ogunlana mentioned the National Assembly appreciated the cooperation of the state legislatures within the consideration of the modification, describing their approvals as a big step in direction of strengthening Nigeria’s safety structure and deepening its federal system.