The Osun State House of Assembly on Tuesday became 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 had been transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly.
The clarification came amid reports suggesting that the National Assembly had forwarded the entire package of proposed Constitution 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 so far transmitted to the states, while other bills would be forwarded after being passed in identical form by both chambers.
The statement was 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.”
He said, “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.”
According to him, the decision to prioritise the State Police Bill was in response to widespread public demands and concerns over security and policing in the country.
The clerk explained that the remaining Constitution Alteration 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,” the statement added.
Following the transmission of the bill, lawmakers of the Osun State House of Assembly, at plenary on Tuesday, unanimously approved the proposed constitutional amendment after deliberations.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, earlier read a letter from the National Assembly, “requesting state Houses of Assembly across the federation to deliberate on and approve the proposed constitutional amendment.”
The Speaker further explained that “the amendment had been forwarded to the House for its consideration and approval as part of the constitutional amendment process.”
In separate submissions, the lawmaker representing Ife South State Constituency, Lawrence Adeoti, and Taofeek Olayiwola, representing Ede South State Constituency, supported the passage of the bill, noting that the establishment of state police would further enhance security across the country.
Also contributing to the debate, Adewumi Adeyemi, representing Obokun State Constituency, and Jeremiah Awoyeye, representing Ife Central State Constituency, described the proposed establishment of state police as timely.
They also said that, when established, state police would strengthen the security architecture of the country, particularly at the state and local government levels.
They maintained that the proposed amendment would “enhance the ability of states to provide adequate security personnel and respond more effectively to security challenges within their respective jurisdictions.”
After the deliberations, 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 subsequently seconded by Tajudeen Adeyemi, representing Ifelodun State Constituency.
Also during Tuesday’s plenary, the House dissolved into the Committee of the Whole for further consideration of the Osun State Park Management System Bill, 2026.
The committee considered the proposed amendments and corrections to the bill and adopted them as part of the proposal.
Source: punchng.com
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