State Police Gets Major Boost As Ekiti Assembly Unanimously Approves Constitutional Amendment

The Ekiti State House of Assembly has unanimously approved a proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution aimed at paving the way for the establishment of state police in Nigeria.

All 21 lawmakers present at Tuesday’s plenary supported the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026. The bill passed its second and third readings on the same day, signalling the lawmakers’ backing for efforts to decentralise policing in the country.

Following the approval, the Speaker of the Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, directed the Clerk to transmit the bill, alongside the House’s observations, to the National Assembly for further consideration.

Speaking during deliberations, Aribasoye noted that the debate over state police had continued for more than two decades, describing the legislative process as an opportunity to address longstanding concerns about Nigeria’s security framework.

He said Nigerians had repeatedly raised concerns about delays in responding to distress calls, limited operational reach and the distance between law enforcement agencies and the communities they were expected to protect.

According to the Speaker, inadequate and poorly coordinated local policing in some parts of the country had contributed to insecurity, with negative effects on livelihoods, education, business confidence and public trust in government.

Aribasoye argued that a properly structured state police system, backed by constitutional safeguards, could improve accountability by bringing police leadership and supervision closer to communities and their elected representatives.

He described the establishment of state police as a long-overdue practical necessity rather than merely a theoretical policy option.

During a clause-by-clause review of the proposed amendment, the Committee of the Whole House recommended that the Assembly approve the bill with a minor adjustment.

The committee proposed inserting the phrase “an Act of the National Assembly or a Law of the State House of Assembly, as applicable” after the words “this Constitution” in the newly proposed Section 317A(5).

According to the committee, the amendment would clarify the legislative powers of both the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly, within their respective constitutional limits, to authorise relevant security arrangements.

The Ekiti Assembly’s approval adds to ongoing legislative efforts to amend the Constitution to accommodate state police, a proposal that has remained a major subject of national debate amid persistent security challenges.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the proposed amendment will require further consideration through the relevant constitutional amendment process before state police can be established under the new framework.