Governors to appoint state police commissioners under proposed constitutional amendment as lawmakers include safeguards against political abuse
By Umar Baba
ABUJA, Nigeria — June 25, 2026
Senate Approves Landmark Constitutional Amendment on State Police
In a major step toward overhauling Nigeria’s security architecture, the Senate has passed a constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police services across the federation, paving the way for one of the most significant policing reforms since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
The legislation, which seeks to amend provisions of the 1999 Constitution, introduces a dual policing framework comprising a Federal Police Service and separate State Police Services, effectively ending the exclusive policing structure currently operated through the Nigeria Police Force.
The development comes amid mounting public concern over worsening insecurity, including mass kidnappings, banditry, terrorism, communal violence and other criminal activities that have stretched the country’s centralized security system.
The bill was passed after an extensive clause-by-clause consideration by lawmakers and secured the support of more than two-thirds of senators, meeting the constitutional threshold required for such amendments.
Governors to Appoint State Police Commissioners
One of the most consequential provisions of the proposed amendment grants state governors the authority to appoint Commissioners of Police for their respective states.
However, the appointment process includes checks and balances designed to prevent arbitrary selections.
Under the bill, governors will appoint commissioners based on recommendations from the National Police Council, while state Houses of Assembly must confirm the appointments before they become effective.
The proposed amendment also establishes minimum national standards and qualifications that prospective commissioners must satisfy.
Supporters of the legislation argue that allowing states greater control over policing operations will enhance accountability and improve responsiveness to local security challenges.
Defining the Powers of Governors
The bill further outlines the operational relationship between state governors and their police commands.
Under the proposed constitutional provisions, governors may issue lawful written directives of a general policy nature concerning public safety and public order within their states.
However, operational policing powers remain subject to constitutional safeguards intended to prevent political interference.
Legal experts note that defining these boundaries will be critical in determining whether state police become effective security institutions or instruments of political influence.
Safeguards Introduced to Protect Civil Liberties
Perhaps the most closely watched aspect of the legislation is the inclusion of provisions aimed at preventing abuse of state police powers.
Lawmakers inserted explicit safeguards designed to protect political opponents, activists, journalists, civil society groups and citizens exercising their constitutional rights.
A key provision prohibits state police commissioners from arresting, detaining, investigating or deploying force against individuals, political parties or organizations merely for criticizing a government.
The clause requires that all law enforcement actions must be conducted strictly within the confines of existing laws and due process.
The safeguard is widely viewed as a response to longstanding concerns that state governors could potentially weaponize police institutions against political rivals if granted control over security structures.
Federal Government Retains Emergency Intervention Powers
While the bill expands state authority over policing, it also preserves federal oversight mechanisms under clearly defined circumstances.
Under the proposed framework, the Federal Police Service may intervene in a state’s security affairs when there is an actual or imminent breakdown of public order that the state police service is unable or unwilling to contain.
Federal intervention may also occur upon formal request by a state governor.
The amendment requires any such intervention to be authorized in writing by the President, specifying the reasons, territorial scope, functions and duration of the operation.
Additionally, notifications must be sent within 48 hours to the affected governor, state House of Assembly, National Police Council and National Assembly.
To prevent prolonged federal control, interventions exceeding prescribed limits would require Senate approval.
Analysts describe these provisions as an attempt to balance state autonomy with national security responsibilities.
Tinubu’s Security Reform Agenda Gains Momentum
The Senate’s approval came barely a day after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu formally transmitted the constitutional amendment bill to the National Assembly.
The President described state police as a critical component of ongoing efforts to modernize Nigeria’s policing structure and address emerging security threats more effectively.
According to the presidency, the proposal seeks to create a legal framework that allows states to establish and operate their own police services while maintaining coordination with federal law enforcement agencies.
Tinubu has repeatedly argued that Nigeria’s complex security challenges require a decentralized policing model capable of responding quickly to local threats.
The President also emphasized that local governments, municipalities and communities would play more active roles in maintaining public safety under the proposed arrangement.
Why Calls for State Police Have Intensified
For decades, advocates of state policing have argued that Nigeria’s centralized police structure has become increasingly overwhelmed by the country’s growing security challenges.
Supporters contend that local police services would possess better knowledge of communities, terrain, culture and intelligence networks, enabling more effective crime prevention and response.
They believe state police would strengthen grassroots intelligence gathering, improve community engagement and reduce response times during emergencies.
Many security experts point to the success of decentralized policing systems in other federal democracies as evidence that Nigeria should adopt a similar approach.
The latest push has gained momentum amid persistent insecurity across several states, where communities often complain about delayed responses from centrally controlled security agencies.
Concerns Over Funding and Political Manipulation
Despite broad support for security reforms, critics remain cautious about the implications of state police.
Some stakeholders fear that governors may exploit state-controlled police formations to suppress political opponents or influence elections.
Others question whether financially struggling states possess the resources necessary to establish, equip and maintain professional police services.
Concerns have also been raised regarding potential ethnic, religious and communal tensions that could emerge if policing structures are perceived as partisan or exclusionary.
Human rights advocates are therefore calling for strong oversight mechanisms, independent complaint structures and transparent recruitment processes to safeguard public trust.
Constitutional Hurdles Still Remain
Although the Senate has passed the bill, the amendment has not yet become law.
The proposal must still secure approval from the House of Representatives and receive endorsement from at least two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 State Houses of Assembly before it can be transmitted to the President for assent.
Political observers believe the state assembly stage could become the next major battleground, as governors and lawmakers weigh the benefits and risks associated with the reform.
The Senate’s passage of the State Police Bill marks a potentially transformative moment in Nigeria’s security and governance landscape.
If ultimately adopted, the amendment would fundamentally alter the country’s policing structure by granting states unprecedented authority over internal security while maintaining federal oversight during emergencies.
As lawmakers, governors, security experts and civil society organizations continue to debate its implications, the proposal has reignited national discussions about how best to address insecurity, protect civil liberties and strengthen democratic accountability.
The coming months are expected to determine whether Nigeria finally embraces a decentralized policing model that many have advocated for years as a solution to the nation’s persistent security challenges.
Leave a Reply