The Rivers State House of Assembly has backed the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish State Police Services in Nigeria.
The development followed the transmission of the 1999 Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to state legislatures by the National Assembly for consideration. The proposed amendment has now moved to the state level of the constitutional alteration process.
The bill seeks to provide a constitutional framework for states that wish to establish their own police services while retaining the Nigeria Police Force as the federal policing authority.
The Rivers lawmakers’ endorsement comes as state Houses of Assembly begin considering the proposal transmitted by the National Assembly.
The move is part of the broader process required to amend the 1999 Constitution, with the state legislatures expected to examine the proposed State Police Services framework and communicate their positions.
The National Assembly had clarified that the State Police Services Bill was the only Constitution Alteration Bill transmitted to the 36 state assemblies at this stage. Other proposed amendments are expected to be forwarded after being passed in identical form by both chambers of the National Assembly.
The constitutional amendment requires approval by at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly before it can proceed to the next stage. Reports on the process indicate that 24 state legislatures would therefore be required to approve the proposal.
Osun State became the first state assembly to approve the State Police Services Bill on September 22, while other legislatures, including Plateau and Oyo, have commenced or scheduled consideration of the proposal.
The proposed arrangement would introduce state-controlled police services alongside the existing federal structure, changing the current centralised policing model.
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The Rivers Assembly’s position adds to the ongoing state-level consideration of the proposal as the National Assembly seeks the required concurrence from the state legislatures.
The constitutional process is expected to continue as more state assemblies deliberate on the bill and communicate their decisions to the National Assembly.
