The Osun State House of Assembly on Tuesday became the first state legislature to endorse the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police, following clarification from the National Assembly that only the State Police Services Bill had so far been sent to the 36 state Houses of Assembly.
The clarification followed reports that the National Assembly had transmitted the complete set of proposed constitutional amendments to state legislatures for consideration.
In a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the National Assembly explained that only the State Police Services Bill had been forwarded to the states at this stage. It added that the other proposed amendments would be transmitted once they had been approved in the same form by both chambers.
The statement was titled, “National Assembly Clarifies Transmission of Constitution Alteration Bill to State Houses of Assembly.”
Ogunlana recalled that on September 16, 2026, the National Assembly announced the transmission of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, titled, “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for the Establishment of State Police Services; and for Related Matters.”
He said, “For the avoidance of doubt, it is only this particular Constitution Alteration Bill that has so far been transmitted to the state Houses of Assembly.
“It is, therefore, incorrect to suggest or create the impression that all the Constitution Alteration Bills before the National Assembly have been transmitted to the states.”
According to the clerk, the decision to give priority to the State Police Bill followed growing public calls and concerns over security and policing across the country.
He said the other proposed constitutional amendments would be forwarded to the 36 state Houses of Assembly once both chambers of the National Assembly had passed them in identical form.
“The other Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bills before the National Assembly will be transmitted to the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states of the federation upon their passage in identical form by both chambers of the National Assembly, in accordance with the constitutional amendment process,” the statement added.
Following receipt of the bill, members of the Osun State House of Assembly unanimously approved the proposed amendment during Tuesday’s plenary after considering its provisions.
Earlier, the Speaker of the Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, read a letter from the National Assembly, “requesting state Houses of Assembly across the federation to deliberate on and approve the proposed constitutional amendment.”
Egbedun also stated that “the amendment had been forwarded to the House for its consideration and approval as part of the constitutional amendment process.”
During the debate, Lawrence Adeoti, representing Ife South State Constituency, and Taofeek Olayiwola, representing Ede South State Constituency, backed the bill, saying the creation of state police could improve security nationwide.
Contributing to the debate, Adewumi Adeyemi of Obokun State Constituency and Jeremiah Awoyeye of Ife Central State Constituency described the proposed state police system as appropriate at this time.
They argued that state police, if established, could improve the country’s security framework, especially at the state and local government levels.
The lawmakers said the amendment would “enhance the ability of states to provide adequate security personnel and respond more effectively to security challenges within their respective jurisdictions.”
Following the debate, the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Babajide Kofoworola, representing Ede North State Constituency, moved a motion for the House to endorse the proposed constitutional amendment.
The motion was seconded by Tajudeen Adeyemi, representing Ifelodun State Constituency.
At the same plenary session, the Assembly resolved into the Committee of the Whole to further consider the Osun State Park Management System Bill, 2026.
The committee reviewed proposed amendments and corrections to the bill and adopted them as part of the legislative process.
