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As President Bola Tinubu’s administration races to set up state police across Nigeria, 11 state assemblies have yet to sign off on it. Their pending signatures, however, will not delay the establishment of a state police in the country.
On September 16, 2026, the clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, transmitted the proposed Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the 36 state assemblies for their assent.
However, 11 state assemblies have yet to approve the proposed police reform. The states are Lagos, Kano, Ebonyi, Kogi, Niger, Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Katsina and Sokoto.
On Friday, the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila, the chief of staff to the president, said 24 of the 36 assemblies approved the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026.
“In line with Section 9 of the Constitution, the amendment can now be returned to the National Assembly for transmission to Mr President for assent,” the Gbajabiamila-led group said, adding that the approval from 24 states provides the requisite constitutional backing for the reform.
Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution states that a constitutional alteration requires approval of at least two-thirds of the assemblies, which translates to 24 of the 36 states.
The assemblies that have already subscribed to the state police bill are Adamawa, Delta, Edo, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, Zamfara, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Ekiti, Kebbi, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Abia, Yobe and Kaduna.
Ondo became the 25th state on Monday.
After two-thirds of assemblies approved it, the Senate promised on Tuesday that the state police bill would be enacted before the end of this year.
Paul Ibe, media aide to the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has warned President Bola Tinubu against allowing his Makkah trip to create uncertainty over his return and ability to govern, recalling the prolonged absence of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Ibe raised the concern in a post on X following Tinubu’s departure for the pilgrimage, insisting that Nigerians deserve transparency about the President’s traveling plans and capacity to discharge his duties.
He argued that the country needed practical action on insecurity and economic hardship, not prayers without effective governance.
“Prayers for peace must be matched by effective action against insecurity. Prayers for prosperity must translate into policies that ease hardship, create jobs and help families put food on their tables,” Ibe wrote.
He said the Presidency should provide a definite return date and explain any change to Tinubu’s itinerary, including any medical treatment that could affect his return or ability to perform his duties.
Ibe also cited Section 145 of the Constitution, saying that if Tinubu became unable to discharge his responsibilities, he must notify the National Assembly to allow Vice-President Kashim Shettima to serve as Acting President.
He warned that Nigerians should not be left uncertain about who was exercising presidential authority, adding that the administration should be judged by its presence, accountability and results.
“Mr President, pray for Nigeria. Then return and do the work Nigerians elected you to do,” he stated.
‘Nigeria must not witness another Yar’Adua case — Atiku’s aide warns Tinubu over Makkah trip
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