The House of Representatives has reversed its earlier approval of the proposed State Police Bill, paving the way for lawmakers to consider a fresh version submitted by President Bola Tinubu.
The decision was taken during Tuesday’s plenary after the House agreed to rescind its earlier passage of the bill following a motion moved by the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive.
According to Waive, new developments surrounding the proposed legislation made it necessary for lawmakers to review the bill and ensure it aligns with Nigeria’s evolving security needs.
He explained that the House also dissolved the conference committee that had been set up to harmonise its earlier version of the bill with that of the Senate.
The move came shortly after Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read a letter from President Tinubu, who formally transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026 to the House for consideration.
In the letter, the President said the new proposal builds on previous legislative efforts while introducing additional safeguards to support the establishment of a dual policing system involving both the Federal Government and state governments.
Tinubu described the bill as a key part of his administration’s efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and urged lawmakers to give it speedy consideration.
Following the presentation, the House immediately considered the President’s proposal and successfully passed it through first and second readings.
The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, allowing both the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly to make laws relating to policing.
Under the bill, states will only be allowed to establish their own police services after passing enabling laws that meet national standards set by the National Assembly.
If eventually approved by both chambers of the National Assembly, the proposal will be transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly, where at least 24 states must endorse it before it can be forwarded to President Tinubu for assent.
The latest development marks another significant step in the ongoing debate over the creation of state police as part of efforts to improve security across Nigeria.
