Senate: State Police Bill Driven by National Need, Not Politics

The Nigerian Senate has strongly defended the passage of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, describing the legislative initiative as “a child of necessity, not political expediency, and a product of national consensus, not cynicism.

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The upper chamber stated that the proposal to establish state police addresses an urgent national security concern that cannot and should not be delayed because of anyone’s political ambitions, considering the country’s current security realities.
Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, made the remarks in a statement issued on Sunday by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs. He noted that the process of incorporating state police into Nigeria’s governance structure did not begin recently.
Despite some opposing views, Bamidele said available observations indicate that Nigerians have largely welcomed the passage of the Bill, believing it will significantly improve security at the subnational level.
He explained that the proposal for state police formed part of memoranda submitted to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution. According to him, because of its sensitive nature, the memorandum underwent a rigorous process and extensive consultations across the federation.
Bamidele said the National Assembly consulted widely with the Executive, the Nigerian Governors Forum, the Conference of Speakers of the State Legislatures of Nigeria, and the leadership of the Nigeria Police, among other stakeholders.
He further disclosed that in July 2025, the National Assembly conducted public hearings across all six geopolitical zones, where participants overwhelmingly endorsed the proposal. According to him, nearly all stakeholders supported the State Police Bill during the consultations in view of the prevailing security challenges.
He also highlighted the contributions of the Nigeria Police to the constitutional amendment process, noting that the Force made key recommendations to help the National Assembly develop accountability and oversight mechanisms capable of preventing the abuse of state police by political actors.
According to Bamidele, the Nigeria Police’s support for the Bill underscores its strategic national importance in tackling insecurity at both the state and local government levels.
Beyond the input of the Nigeria Police, he explained that the State Police Bill also underwent robust debates in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
He said: “Even though the APC is the majority, members of opposition parties—including the PDP, ADC, NDC and Labour Party—also exercised their discretion in support of the Bill, primarily in the national interest rather than on parochial grounds.
“In the Senate, for instance, 84 out of 109 members voted clause by clause in support of the Bill. This represents a 77.06 per cent approval in the Senate.”
Bamidele stressed that security is a collective public good that benefits all citizens regardless of ethnic, political or religious affiliations. He noted that political leaders in other countries often set aside partisan interests to support initiatives that strengthen national security.
He urged opposition parties and their leaders to contribute constructive ideas that would promote peace and stability across the federation.
According to him, even when they disagree with government policies, they have a responsibility to present credible alternatives that will make the nation stronger and better. He regretted that they have failed to meet this important obligation of opposition democracy.
Directorate of Media and Public Affairs
Office of the Leader of the Senate
Federal Republic of Nigeria
28th June, 2026