The National Assembly has transmitted the proposed constitutional amendment bill seeking the establishment of state police to all 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval.

The Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, was transmitted to the state legislatures as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed this in a statement, explaining that the transmission was carried out in line with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Ogunlana said the 36 State Houses of Assembly are expected to consider the bill and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly within 30 days of receiving it.

He, however, clarified that the 30-day period is an administrative timeframe and does not constitute a constitutional deadline.For the proposed amendment to proceed to the next stage, it must receive approval from at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly.

This means that a minimum of 24 out of Nigeria’s 36 states must approve the constitutional amendment.

The proposed establishment of state police is part of broader efforts to reform Nigeria’s policing system and strengthen the country’s response to growing security challenges.

Other issues contained in the ongoing constitutional amendment process include local government autonomy, independent candidacy, reserved legislative seats for women, as well as other electoral and governance reforms.

The State Houses of Assembly are now expected to begin consideration of the bill according to their respective legislative procedures.

After receiving the resolutions from the state legislatures, the National Assembly will take the necessary subsequent steps in the constitutional amendment process.

The move places the state police proposal before the state legislatures, whose decisions will determine whether the proposed amendment can advance to the next stage.