The Osun State House of Assembly has become the first state legislature in Nigeria to approve the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish State Police Services.
The approval was given during Tuesday’s plenary in Osogbo, following deliberations on the bill transmitted to the state legislature by the National Assembly.
The development came as the National Assembly clarified that the State Police Services Bill is the only constitutional amendment proposal so far transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly, contrary to reports suggesting that the entire package of proposed constitutional alterations had been forwarded to the states.
The clarification was contained in a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, 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.”
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He stressed that only the State Police Services Bill had been sent to the state legislatures so far.
“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,” Ogunlana said.
He added that it was therefore incorrect to suggest that all the Constitution Alteration Bills currently before the National Assembly had been transmitted to the states.
Why State Police Bill Was Prioritized
According to the National Assembly Clerk, the decision to prioritize the State Police Services Bill was driven by widespread public demands and concerns over security and policing in the country.
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He explained that the remaining constitutional amendment bills would be transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly after they had been passed in identical form by both chambers of the National Assembly.
“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,” he stated.
Osun Lawmakers Back State Police
At the Osun State House of Assembly, the Speaker, Adewale Egbedun, read a letter from the National Assembly requesting state legislatures to deliberate on and approve the proposed constitutional amendment.
Egbedun explained that the amendment had been forwarded to the House for consideration and approval as part of the constitutional amendment process.
During the debate, lawmakers expressed support for the proposal.
The member representing Ife South State Constituency, Lawrence Adeoti, and his counterpart representing Ede South State Constituency, Taofeek Olayiwola, backed the bill, arguing that the establishment of state police could strengthen security across the country.
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Also contributing to the debate, Adewumi Adeyemi, representing Obokun State Constituency, and Jeremiah Awoyeye, representing Ife Central State Constituency, described the proposal as timely.
They argued that state police, if established, could strengthen the country’s security architecture, particularly at the state and local government levels.
The lawmakers maintained that the proposed constitutional amendment would enhance the ability of states to provide security personnel and respond more effectively to security challenges within their jurisdictions.
Unanimous Approval
Following the debate, the Assembly’s Majority Leader, Babajide Kofoworola, representing Ede North State Constituency, moved the motion for the House to support the proposed amendment.
The motion was seconded by Tajudeen Adeyemi, representing Ifelodun State Constituency.
The bill was subsequently approved unanimously by the lawmakers, making Osun the first state legislature reported to have approved the proposed State Police constitutional amendment.
The development marks an important stage in the constitutional amendment process, although approval by a state House of Assembly alone does not establish State Police Services. The proposal must still go through the remaining constitutional amendment requirements before it can become law.
Osun Park Management Bill Also Considered
During the same plenary, the Osun State House of Assembly dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to further consider the Osun State Park Management System Bill, 2026.
The committee considered proposed amendments and corrections to the bill and adopted them as part of the legislative process.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly has urged the public and the media to rely on its official communications for accurate information concerning the status and transmission of the various Constitution Alteration Bills.
The National Assembly said the ongoing constitutional amendment process would be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
