The Osun State House of Assembly has become the first state legislature to approve the proposed constitutional amendment for the establishment of state police, as the National Assembly clarified that only the State Police Services Bill has so far been transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly.
The clarification followed reports suggesting that the National Assembly had forwarded the entire package of proposed constitutional alterations to the state legislatures for consideration.
In a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the National Assembly said the State Police Services Bill was the only constitutional alteration proposal transmitted to the states so far.
Ogunlana said the remaining Constitution Alteration Bills would be forwarded to the state legislatures after they had been passed in identical form by both chambers of the National Assembly.
He said the National Assembly had, on September 16, 2026, 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.
“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,” the statement said.
According to the Clerk, the decision to prioritise the State Police Bill was in response to public demands and concerns over security and policing in the country.
He added that the other Constitution Alteration Bills would be transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly after they had been passed in identical form by both chambers, in line with the constitutional amendment process.
Following the transmission, lawmakers in the Osun State House of Assembly unanimously approved the proposed state police amendment during Tuesday’s plenary.
The Speaker, Adewale Egbedun, had earlier read a letter from the National Assembly requesting state Houses of Assembly to deliberate on and approve the proposed amendment.
Egbedun said the amendment had been forwarded to the House for 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, supported the proposal, saying state police could strengthen security across the country.
Adewumi Adeyemi, representing Obokun State Constituency, and Jeremiah Awoyeye, representing Ife Central, also described the proposal as timely.
They said the establishment of state police could strengthen security at the state and local government levels by improving the ability of authorities to respond to security challenges within their jurisdictions.
Following the debate, the Majority Leader, Babajide Kofoworola, representing Ede North State Constituency, moved a motion for the House to support the proposed amendment. The motion was seconded by Tajudeen Adeyemi, representing Ifelodun State Constituency.
The Assembly subsequently approved the proposal.
Also during Tuesday’s plenary, the House dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to 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.
