Harry Archie
The Oyo State House of Assembly has received a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow states in Nigeria to establish their own police services.
The bill was transmitted to the Assembly by the Clerk of the National Assembly for consideration.
It seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution and create a legal framework for states that want to establish state police, while the Nigeria Police Force would continue to operate as the federal police service.
The development follows the passage of the Executive Bill by the Senate on June 24, 2026, and the House of Representatives on July 23, 2026.
The proposal is part of the ongoing debate over how to improve security in Nigeria, particularly at the community and state levels.
Supporters of state police have argued that locally based police services could give states greater capacity to respond to security challenges within their communities.
The bill is not limited to Oyo State.
It is being transmitted to state Houses of Assembly as part of the constitutional amendment process.
The Constitution requires state legislatures to consider and take action on proposed amendments before the process can move forward.
The development is therefore expected to attract further debate among lawmakers and other stakeholders as the country considers changes to its policing structure.
