The Rivers State House of Assembly has formally endorsed the bill for the creation of state police in Nigeria, joining Osun and Edo states in backing the constitutional amendment.
This follows the transmission of the proposed bill from the National Assembly to the state legislatures on September 16, 2026, as part of the constitutional amendment process. According to Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, at least 24 out of the 36 state assemblies must approve the bill before it can proceed to the President for assent.
The proposed amendment seeks to establish a decentralized policing system. The Presidential Working Group has argued that this would bring law enforcement closer to Nigerians, with new safeguards to ensure effective oversight and accountability. The National Assembly has given state assemblies a 30-day window to deliberate on the proposed changes.
During Monday’s plenary session, the Rivers Assembly, presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, voted unanimously to approve the Fifth Alteration Bill of the 1999 Constitution. The Speaker highlighted the Assembly’s full support for President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to improve national security through the establishment of state police. He cited Section 9 of the Constitution, which requires that such amendments be approved by at least two-thirds of both the National Assembly and the state assemblies.
Amaewhule explained that the bill would allow states to establish their own police services, subject to national standards and oversight, while maintaining the Federal Police as the default agency until state police are fully operational. The amendment also includes provisions for civilian oversight, human rights protections, minimum policing standards, independent Police Service Commissions, intergovernmental cooperation, firearms control, and federal intervention in extreme cases.
The Speaker noted that the bill comprises 26 clauses, including 25 constitutional alterations or substitutions, all of which were read aloud during the session. The Assembly then held a vote, with all 25 members present supporting the bill and none opposing or abstaining.
Announcing the result, Speaker Amaewhule reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to enhancing the security of lives and property in Rivers State. He emphasized the importance of supporting measures that allow citizens to live and conduct their affairs in safety, describing the introduction of state police as a necessary complement to the Federal Police. He also thanked the lawmakers for consulting with their constituents and casting what he described as the right vote, reflecting the long-standing demand among Nigerians for police services at the state level.
