Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has announced that the National Assembly will forward the State Police (Constitution Alteration) Bill, 2026, to President Bola Tinubu for assent this week.
Mr Bamidele disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, noting that 32 State Houses of Assembly had approved the bill, satisfying the constitutional requirement stipulated in Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution.
He added that four other state assemblies were expected to submit their reports before the National Assembly resumes on Tuesday. According to him, the development represents a major step towards reforming Nigeria’s policing system following more than 15 years of unsuccessful efforts.
The Senate leader explained that the proposed constitutional amendment would establish the Federal Police Service and State Police Services. He said the initiative was intended to strengthen community-based policing within constitutional safeguards, dismissing concerns that it could lead to the creation of ethnic or state-controlled armies.
Mr Bamidele said the National Assembly remained committed to meeting Nigerians’ expectations for improved security through proactive and evidence-based legislation.
He stressed that the effectiveness of the legislature should be assessed based on how its laws improve citizens’ lives rather than the number of bills passed.
Highlighting the National Assembly’s legislative achievements, he mentioned the Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2024, and the National Social Investment Programmes Act, 2023.
He revealed that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) had disbursed over N204 billion to applicants in 323 tertiary institutions across the country.
According to him, the beneficiaries were drawn from 89 colleges, 108 polytechnics and 126 universities, a development he said had helped reduce student dropout rates.
Other legislative milestones he listed included the Minimum Wage Amendment Act, 2024; Tax Reform Acts, 2025; Investments and Securities Act, 2025; and Electoral Act, 2026.
He also cited the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act, 2024, and the Regional Development Commissions Acts, noting that they had contributed to economic development and strengthened public institutions.
Mr Bamidele reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to press freedom, an open parliament and sustained engagement with journalists.
However, he called on media stakeholders to tackle irresponsible social media practices, including character assassination, misinformation, blackmail and the deliberate misrepresentation of facts.
He noted that such practices had negatively affected individuals and public institutions, emphasising the importance of responsible information sharing for national development.
(NAN)
