By Gloria Ikibah
The National Assembly has received approval from 28 State Houses of Assembly for the constitutional amendment seeking to establish State Police Services, paving the way for the proposed legislation to be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent. 
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, confirming that the number of approvals secured exceeded the constitutionally required threshold of 24 states.
The bill, which seeks to alter the 1999 Constitution to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and related matters, was transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly on 16 September 2026 for consideration and approval.
According to the statement, the state legislatures were requested to communicate their decisions to the National Assembly within 30 days.
Although the stipulated period elapsed on 15 October, Ogunlana said his office will continue to receive reports from state assemblies until the bill was transmitted for presidential assent.
“Following the receipt and verification of the reports, the Office confirms that 28 State Houses of Assembly have approved 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 statement said.
The Clerk said the National Assembly had also undertaken administrative verification of the reports and accompanying Votes and Proceedings to establish their authenticity and ensure that the records accurately reflected the decisions of the respective state legislatures.
He further clarified that the Constitution did not expressly prescribe a Third Reading for a Constitution Alteration Bill, unlike the procedure applicable to ordinary bills.
“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 stated.
Ogunlana said the National Assembly had commenced the necessary administrative processes to facilitate the transmission of the bill to the President.
“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 statement added.
The National Assembly expressed appreciation to the state legislatures for their cooperation and timely response to the proposed constitutional amendment.
It described the development as a significant step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and deepening the country’s federal system.
“The National Assembly appreciates the cooperation and timely response of the State Houses of Assembly in the consideration of this important constitutional amendment, which represents a significant step in the ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and deepen the country’s federal system,” Ogunlana said.
The statement added that the Office of the Clerk will continue to provide accurate and timely information on developments relating to the constitutional amendment process.
The proposed establishment of State Police Services is part of ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s policing system amid persistent security challenges across the country.
The constitutional amendment process requires the approval of at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly before a proposed alteration can proceed to the stage of presidential assent.
With 28 state legislatures having approved the bill, the National Assembly has confirmed that the required threshold has been met.
