State Police Bill To Pass This Week – Senate Leader Reveals: 6 Key Things You Must Know

The news says: Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has announced that the National Assembly will pass the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police this week. He described the reform as “long overdue” amid worsening security challenges. The bill will be isolated from the broader constitutional review agenda and transmitted to state assemblies for approval.

Who are the people involved in this legislative push?

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central Senatorial District). The National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives). Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau (Chairman, Senate Committee on Constitutional Review). Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu (Chairman, House Committee on Constitutional Review). The Office of the Attorney General. The Chief of Staff to the President. The Inspector General of Police. President Bola Tinubu (aligned with the bill). State governors (majority in support). State Houses of Assembly (awaiting the bill for approval).

Where is the bill in the legislative process?

The bill has undergone intensive consultations involving the National Assembly leadership, the Attorney General, the Chief of Staff, the IGP, and other stakeholders. The Senate Leader says the bill will be isolated from other constitutional amendments and voted on this week. After passage, it will be transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly, which require two-thirds approval before the bill proceeds to the President for assent.

What does the state police bill propose?

It seeks to amend the Nigerian Constitution to make provision for state police. This would allow each state to establish its own police force, separate from the Nigeria Police Force. The goal is to address the unique security challenges of each state, particularly as banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism have overwhelmed the central police command.

When will this happen?

Senator Bamidele said on Tuesday (June 9, 2026) that the bill would be passed “this very week” – by June 14, 2026. He stated: “There is no reason for further delay.”

Why is state police being prioritised now?

Because of worsening security challenges across Nigeria. The Senate Leader described the reform as “long overdue.” The public has made it “abundantly clear that there cannot be a better time to establish state police than now.” The National Assembly is responding to popular demand and the failure of the centralised police force to adequately protect citizens.

How does the passage process work?

The National Assembly will pass the constitutional amendment. It will then be transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly. Two-thirds (24 states) must approve the amendment. Once that threshold is met, the bill goes to President Tinubu for assent. The President is “fully aligned” with the bill, according to Bamidele.

6 key things you must know about the state police bill.

1. The bill is being isolated from other constitutional amendments to fast-track it. Senator Bamidele said: “What we are resolved to do is isolate the state police amendment from the broader constitutional review agenda so that we can vote on it as quickly as possible.” That means other important reforms (like special seats for women) will wait. State police is the priority. The National Assembly is treating it as an emergency.

2. Two-thirds of state assemblies must approve – and the President is aligned. The bill does not become law just because the National Assembly passes it. 24 state Houses of Assembly must also approve. Bamidele said the majority of governors are in support, and their assemblies are “waiting for the bill to arrive.” President Tinubu is “fully aligned.” That suggests the bill is likely to pass.

3. The Senate rejected a motion to probe military spending – calling it “unpatriotic.” Bamidele defended the Senate’s decision, saying: “You do not interrogate the cost of waging a war until the war is over.” He argued that a public probe would put the military on trial in the middle of a war and would be “the most unpatriotic course of action.” The Senate instead relies on its standing committees (Army, Air Force, Navy, Defence) to conduct oversight.

4. Bamidele believes publishing lawmakers’ salaries would benefit legislators. On the court ruling against N110bn SUVs and legislative allowances, Bamidele said: “All allowances received by parliamentarians – at both federal and state levels – should be published; published fully, publicly, and once and for all.” He argued that the mystery surrounding legislative remuneration breeds negative assumptions. He called on the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission to publish what every category of public officeholder earns.

5. The Senate Leader sponsored over 70 bills – including the old national anthem restoration. Bamidele listed his achievements: the University of Agricultural and Development Studies, the University of Agriculture and Technology in Ekiti, the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, the upgrade of Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti, the upgrade of Yaba College of Technology, and the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe. His first bill restored Nigeria’s original national anthem – assented to on June 11, 2023, and sung on Democracy Day.

6. The Senate defends its “rubber stamp” label – saying collaboration is not weakness. Bamidele addressed criticism that the 10th Assembly is a rubber stamp. He said the Senate chose to resolve disagreements privately rather than perform them publicly. They held meetings with the NWC, the President, ministers, and agencies – raising objections and reaching agreements before bills ever came to the floor. “If we had engaged in that process and then staged a dramatic rejection on the floor, what would that have served – other than satisfying those who equate noise with independence?”

How this affects Nigerians.

i. State police could improve local security responsiveness. Currently, police commissioners are appointed by the IGP in Abuja. They may have no connection to the states they serve. State police would be accountable to state governors and local communities. They would understand local terrain, languages, and threats. Response times could improve. Community trust could increase.

ii. There are risks – state governors could abuse state police for political purposes. Opponents of state police fear that governors would use them to harass opponents, rig elections, or suppress dissent. The constitutional amendment must include safeguards: independent oversight, funding controls, and clear rules of engagement. The National Assembly must address these concerns before passage.

iii. The bill’s passage this week would be a major legacy for the 10th Assembly. State police has been debated for decades. Previous assemblies failed to pass it. If the 10th Assembly succeeds, it will be remembered as a reformist parliament. That legacy would outweigh the “rubber stamp” criticism.

iv. The rejection of military spending probe may anger civil society. Many Nigerians believe military spending lacks accountability. The Senate’s refusal to probe will be seen by some as a cover-up. Bamidele’s argument – “you do not probe during the war” – may not satisfy those who want transparency. The debate will continue.

v. Publication of lawmakers’ salaries – if it happens – would transform public trust. Bamidele’s call for full disclosure is rare among politicians. If the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission publishes all public officeholder remuneration, Nigerians would finally know what their leaders earn. That transparency could reduce speculation and build trust.

vi. The fast-tracking of state police could delay other important constitutional reforms. Special seats for women, local government autonomy, and judicial reforms may wait. The National Assembly has until June 2027 (end of the 10th Assembly) to address them. But time is finite. Prioritising state police means other reforms may not be completed.

Advice from this analyst.

1. To the National Assembly: pass the state police bill this week as promised. But ensure that safeguards against abuse are included. Independent oversight commissions, funding transparency, and strict rules on the use of force are essential. Do not rush so fast that you forget to build guardrails.

2. To state governors and Houses of Assembly: approve the amendment quickly. The public is waiting. But also prepare for the responsibilities of state police: recruitment, training, funding, and accountability. State police is not a magic wand. It requires competent management.

3. To the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission: act on Senator Bamidele’s call. Publish the full remuneration of all public officeholders – National Assembly, state assemblies, ministers, governors. Transparency will reduce public anger and protect legislators from unfair assumptions.

4. To civil society organisations: monitor the state police bill closely. Advocate for strong accountability mechanisms. Also, continue to demand military spending transparency. The Senate’s rejection of a probe is not the end of the conversation.

5. To the Nigerian public: state police is coming. It will not solve all security problems overnight. It will take years to recruit, train, and deploy effectively. Be patient – but also hold state governments accountable. Do not let governors create new militias under the name of state police.

6. To President Bola Tinubu: you are aligned with the bill. Once it passes the National Assembly and state assemblies, assent quickly. Do not delay. The public needs state police. The security situation demands it. Your signature is the final step.

Rhetorical question for you.

If the National Assembly has debated state police for decades, and the Senate Leader now says it will pass “this very week,” what changed – and why did it take so long?

The answer is that crisis accelerates action. For years, insecurity was someone else’s problem – rural communities, northern states, border areas. Now, kidnappings have reached Lagos, Abuja, and the South-West. No region is safe. The elite finally feel threatened. That is not noble. But it is effective. State police is passing not because politicians suddenly care about good governance – but because they finally care about their own security. The result is the same. But the motivation matters. Nigerians should celebrate the bill – while remembering why it took so long.

Akahi News reports that the state police bill will pass this week. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has promised. The National Assembly will isolate it from other amendments. Two-thirds of state assemblies will consider it. President Tinubu will assent. After years of debate, after countless attacks, after thousands of deaths, Nigeria may finally decentralise its police force. It is a victory for federalism. It is a recognition that Abuja cannot police the entire country. But victory is not the end. It is the beginning. State police must be funded, trained, and disciplined. Governors must be restrained. Citizens must be protected. The law is the first step. Implementation is the second. And accountability is the third. Nigerians will watch – and hope – that this time, the reform delivers what it promises: security, not just a new badge.