Tinubu’s State Police Push Reshapes National Assembly Agenda as Reps Withdraw Own Bill, Fast-Track Executive Proposal

ABUJA – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s push for the creation of State Police has dramatically altered the legislative roadmap at the National Assembly, with the House of Representatives withdrawing its own constitutional amendment bill to clear the way for the President’s Executive Bill, signaling a new phase in one of Nigeria’s most consequential security reforms.

The decision, taken during Tuesday’s plenary in Abuja, effectively halts the House’s earlier constitutional amendment process and shifts legislative attention to the Executive proposal, which lawmakers believe offers a broader framework for establishing State Police Services across the federation.

The House had previously passed its version of the Constitution Alteration Bill on June 11, 2026, and, on July 9, constituted a 12-member Conference Committee to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of the legislation.

However, the arrival of President Tinubu’s Executive Bill prompted lawmakers to rethink the process, concluding that allowing separate constitutional amendment tracks to continue simultaneously could create duplication and complicate efforts to produce a unified legal framework.

The turning point came after the House adopted a motion sponsored by the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Rep. Francis Waive (APC, Delta), seeking the rescission of the earlier resolution that approved the House’s version of the State Police Bill and the dissolution of the Conference Committee.

With the motion adopted, Lawmakers formally rescinded the earlier legislation and dissolved the committee, clearing procedural hurdles for the Executive Bill to take centre stage.

The Executive proposal, titled the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2026 (HB. 2797), immediately passed its First Reading before lawmakers proceeded to approve its Second Reading after a debate led by House Leader Julius Ihonvbere.

The bill has now been referred to the House Committee on Constitution Review for detailed legislative scrutiny, setting the stage for what is expected to be an intensive examination of the legal, administrative and operational framework for State Police across Nigeria.

House Leaders were quick to clarify that the withdrawal of the earlier bill should not be interpreted as a retreat from the long-standing campaign for State Police. Rather, they described the move as a strategic legislative decision designed to ensure that the constitutional amendments emerging from the National Assembly are comprehensive, coherent and aligned with the Federal Government’s broader security agenda.

According to the House, the Executive Bill introduces fresh considerations on the structure, operational framework and implementation mechanisms for State Police Services, making it more prudent to consolidate legislative efforts into a single constitutional amendment process.

The development marks one of the most significant legislative shifts in Nigeria’s ongoing constitutional review, with the House signalling its readiness to work closely with the Presidency in crafting a unified legal foundation for State Police, a reform widely regarded as central to addressing the country’s worsening security challenges.

House Spokesman Rep. Akin Rotimi Jr. said the Lower Chamber remains committed to pursuing constitutional reforms through a transparent, rigorous and collaborative legislative process that strengthens democratic institutions while responding to Nigeria’s evolving governance and security realities.