RIVERS ASSEMBLY SUPPORTS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON STATE POLICE
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The Rivers State House of Assembly is supporting the bill that aims to set up a state–level police force in Nigeria.
This comes after the National Assembly passed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, and sent it to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for their review and approval.
The House voted unanimously to support the proposed changes to the 1999 Constitution.
The discussion was the main topic of Monday’s plenary session, which was led by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule. He said the Assembly backs President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to protect the lives and property of citizens by creating state police forces.
Before the vote, the Speaker reminded lawmakers about Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which gives the National Assembly the power to change the Constitution.
He explained that under Section 9(2), such an alteration must be supported by two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly and approved by resolution of the houses of assembly of not less than two-thirds of all the states.
“As required by the Constitution, our responsibility will be to vote whether or not we approve of the alteration of the Constitution so proposed by the National Assembly. No debate is allowed; we will just vote whether we accept or we do not accept,” he told the House.
The speaker then introduced the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, 2022.He explained that the bill aims to set up a constitutional process for creating State Police Services, but only if it follows the Constitution and a law passed by the National Assembly that sets the minimum national policing standards.
He said the bill keeps the Federal Police Service as the main police force in every state until a State Police Service is properly set up and approved.
It also ensures that the federal government continues to have a role in policing across all states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
It also sets up constitutional limits that ensure civilian control, protect human rights, set minimum national standards, create independent police service commissions, encourage cooperation between different levels of government, set up criminal information systems, control firearms, and allow federal intervention in state policing only in specific situations like when there is a breakdown, serious incapacity, national security threat, or severe abuse.
The Speaker mentioned that the detailed structure, procedures, operational control, certification, complaint systems, funding, and how things will be carried out are to be handled by future laws from the National Assembly, and where needed, by the laws of the state Houses of Assembly.
He pointed out that the bill has 26 clauses, including 25 changes or replacements to parts of the Constitution, which he read out to the House.
These changes cover sections 84, 89, 121, 124, 129, 153, 157, 158, 160, 197, 201, 202, and 204; Chapter VI, Part III; replacing sections 214, 215, and 216; adding a new Section 317A; changing Section 318; and updating the Second, Third, and Fifth schedules
Following the reading, a vote was taken, with the lawmakers all indicating support by raising their hands.
Announcing the outcome, the Speaker said the clerk had counted the votes, with 25 members in favour, none against, and no abstentions.
“By this voting, the 10th Assembly of Rivers State is fully in support of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, 2022,” Amaewhule declared.
He said the Assembly fully supports the Federal Executive Council, headed by President Tinubu, in ensuring that the security of lives and property remains a top priority for all levels of government.
“Anything that needs to be done towards ensuring that our people are properly protected, so that people can move freely, stay in their houses, go about their normal businesses without fear or hindrance by anybody or group of persons, will continue to be our top priority,” he said.
The Speaker described the introduction of police at the sub-national level to complement the federal police as a welcome development.
“We believe in this 10th Assembly of Rivers State that everybody needs to work together. We don’t expect that there will be any state assembly that will say no to this particular effort, so that everybody can begin to work in tandem for our people to heave a sigh of relief,” he said.
He thanked the lawmakers for casting what he called the right vote after consulting their constituents, noting that Nigerians have for years clamoured for police at the sub-national level to complement the efforts of the Federal Police.
On September 16, 2026, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, officially forwarded the bill in compliance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The decision was also in line with Section 9 of the Constitution, which states that any proposed amendment passed by the National Assembly requires the concurrence via resolution of at least two-thirds (24 out of 36) of the State Houses of Assembly before it can be presented for presidential assent.
Although the Constitution sets no statutory deadline for state legislatures to return their votes, the National Assembly leadership established a 30-day administrative timeframe to encourage an orderly and timely conclusion to the alteration exercise.
The Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, which seeks to establish a framework for decentralised policing, has so far received significant attention following presidential backing and the inauguration of a working group aimed at operationalising a dual policing structure in Nigeria.
The Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, had said the reform was designed to bring policing closer to Nigerians while building safeguards that can make the system more effective and trusted.
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