The Senate says a state police law will be enacted by the end of 2026, after at least 24 state assemblies approved the constitutional amendment that creates a legal route for state police services.

Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu gave the assurance Monday as the Ondo State House of Assembly passed the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, after second and third readings, with all members present supporting it.

What the Senate promised

Adaramodu said the bill is a priority in the continuing constitution review and would be handled quickly once the executive sends the proposals it needs. He declined to comment on the executive’s timeline, saying the Senate would wait to receive the bills formally.

One report of the remarks quotes the Senate as promising a new police law before the end of the 10th National Assembly, a looser deadline than year end.

He dismissed concerns about delays in state approvals, explaining that the 30 day period was meant for state legislatures to submit their input.

Where the states stand

Reports list Osun, Adamawa, Delta, Edo, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, Zamfara, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Ekiti, Kebbi, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Abia, Yobe and Kaduna as having approved the amendment before Ondo.

A list reported Friday after the working group’s statement named Gombe, which does not appear in this one, so counts differ slightly. Either way, the two thirds mark of 24 of 36 has been passed.

Two thirds of the 36 assemblies is the bar set by Section 9 of the Constitution. The amendment must now be sent to the president for assent.

What the bill would change

The Senate passed the amendment on June 24 with 87 votes. It would replace the single Nigeria Police Force with a Federal Police Service and State Police Services, with state commissioners of police appointed by governors and confirmed by state assemblies.

The bill includes limits. A state commissioner of police may not arrest, detain, investigate or use force against anyone for criticizing the government, except under the law, and the federal government could step in only in cases such as a breakdown of public order, serious rights violations, electoral intimidation or national security threats.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said safeguards would stop governors and other officeholders from misusing state police.

A constitutional amendment only creates the legal route. A separate National Policing Bill, still under review at the Justice Ministry and due back to the presidential working group by Oct. 30, would set the detailed rules.

Adaramodu said the Senate could not act on that bill until it formally receives it, which keeps the year end promise dependent on how quickly the presidency sends it.

Even with a law, states would still need budgets, recruits, training and rules for working with the federal police, and no start date has been announced.

Politicians have long promised Nigerians state police. The test now is whether the Senate keeps its year end pledge, and whether the law can keep new forces from becoming partisan tools.