Nigerian House of Representatives Approves Constitutional Shift Toward State-Level Policing

The Nigerian House of Representatives has passed a significant constitutional amendment bill aimed at decentralizing the nation’s policing structure. The legislation, titled the "Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026," seeks to move policing from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list. This shift would allow for the establishment of state-level police forces alongside the existing federal structure.

In a decisive vote, 288 lawmakers supported the bill, while four members voted against it. This legislative action represents a major development in the long-standing national debate regarding the efficacy of a centralized police force in managing regional security challenges. The move follows a period of heightened public concern over the prevalence of kidnappings, banditry, and violent crime across various parts of the country.

Under the proposed framework, the federal police would retain authority to intervene in state internal security matters only under specific conditions. Such intervention would be permitted if there is a complete breakdown of law and order, if a state governor formally requests assistance, or if a state police force is unable to function due to administrative or financial constraints. The bill establishes a clear division of labor intended to balance local autonomy with federal oversight.

The legislation also introduces new protocols for the appointment and command of police leadership. The President would retain the power to appoint the Inspector-General of Police, acting on the advice of the National Police Council and subject to confirmation by the National Assembly. At the state level, governors would appoint a State Commissioner of Police, also following the advice of the National Police Council and subject to confirmation by the respective State House of Assembly.

Governors would be granted the authority to issue lawful directives to State Commissioners of Police regarding public safety and order. However, the bill includes a safeguard for instances where a commissioner deems a directive unlawful or inconsistent with established policing standards. In such cases, the matter would be referred to the National Police Council, whose decision would be final. This mechanism is designed to prevent the potential misuse of state-level police forces for political purposes.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu stated that the amendment process involved extensive consultation and bipartisan collaboration. He emphasized that the House viewed the bill as a necessary step to strengthen democratic governance, deepen federalism, and build institutions capable of meeting the security demands of a modern nation. The proposal is part of a broader effort to reform the 1999 Constitution, which currently centralizes police control under Section 214.

This legislative shift mirrors recent efforts to decentralize other sectors of the Nigerian economy. For instance, the government previously removed electricity from the exclusive list, allowing states to generate and distribute their own power. Several states have already begun utilizing this authority to establish independent electricity companies, providing a precedent for the current push toward state-level policing.

Despite the passage in the House of Representatives, the bill faces a rigorous path before it can become law. It must still be passed by the Senate. Furthermore, because the bill involves a constitutional amendment, it requires the endorsement of at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly across Nigeria. Only after these legislative hurdles are cleared can the President grant assent to the bill, formally integrating it into the Constitution.

Proponents of the bill argue that localizing police forces will improve response times and community engagement, as state-level officers will be more familiar with the terrain and social dynamics of their jurisdictions. Critics of the current system have long argued that the centralized model is ill-equipped to handle the diverse and localized security threats that have emerged in recent years. As the bill moves to the Senate, the focus will shift to whether the upper chamber maintains the same level of support for this fundamental restructuring of Nigeria’s security architecture.