Oyo lawmakers approve constitutional bill backing state police

The Oyo State House of Assembly has passed a constitutional alteration bill seeking to provide a framework for establishing and operating state police services across Nigeria. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, was approved at plenary on Tuesday after lawmakers considered it clause by clause. The sitting was presided over by Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin.

The consideration followed a letter from the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, transmitting the bill to the state legislature for consideration and approval. The National Assembly sent the proposal to all 36 state Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026. Oyo is among the states to have approved the bill before the end of the 30-day period set for state legislatures to consider it.

Osun, Edo and Rivers were also identified as having passed the measure. The Senate approved the bill on June 24, 2026, while the House of Representatives passed it on July 23. Its progress through the state assemblies is part of the constitutional procedure for alterations.

Ogundoyin said the amendment would have major implications for the Oyo legislature, including the need to create a comprehensive state law capable of turning the constitutional framework into an operating institution. He said the proposal would establish a Federal Police Service alongside State Police Services. Each state would be empowered to create its own service through legislation by its House of Assembly, while the responsibilities of federal and state police authorities would be defined.

Under the framework outlined by the speaker, state police would enforce state laws, maintain public safety and order, prevent and detect offences, protect lives and property, and perform other local policing duties set by state law. The bill also provides for State Police Service Commissions responsible for appointments, promotions, transfers, discipline, oversight, complaints and accountability. A State Commander of Police would head each service, appointed by the governor on the National Police Council’s recommendation and subject to confirmation by the state assembly.