By Princely Onyenwe | News Desk
The Nigerian Senate has given six State Houses of Assembly until November 15, 2026, to formally communicate their positions on the proposed establishment of State Police, warning that failure to respond by the deadline would be treated as withholding approval.
Meanwhile, the affected states are Abia, Benue, Cross River, Kano, Niger and Oyo.
The decision followed Wednesday’s plenary session, where Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed that 30 of the country’s 36 State Houses of Assembly had approved the proposed constitutional amendment.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio subsequently appealed for additional time for the six outstanding states, a position unanimously adopted by lawmakers.
Although the 30 approvals have already exceeded the constitutional requirement of 24 states, representing two-thirds of the federation, the Senate wants the remaining assemblies to formally communicate their positions before the November 15 deadline.
The development marks a major step towards decentralising Nigeria’s policing system amid persistent insecurity, including kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and communal violence across several parts of the country.
Meanwhile, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau disclosed that Kano State had approved the proposal and was transmitting its resolution to the National Assembly, suggesting that the outstanding issue in some states may involve formal communication rather than outright rejection.
The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to empower state governments to establish and manage their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force.
With the required two-thirds legislative approval already secured, attention has shifted to the final constitutional steps, including presidential assent, as the debate over the future of policing in Nigeria continues.
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