President Bola Tinubu has transmitted to the House of Representatives a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide the legal framework for the establishment of state police across the country.

The bill marks the most significant restructuring of Nigeria’s policing architecture since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

In a letter dated June 15, 2026, and addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, the President urged lawmakers to give expedited consideration to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, describing the proposal as a key component of his administration’s security reforms.

Reading the letter during Tuesday’s plenary by the Speaker, Tinubu said the bill seeks to create “a constitutional pathway for the establishment of State Police Services” to strengthen Nigeria’s response to growing security challenges.

According to the President, the proposed legislation builds on previous work already undertaken by the House of Representatives on the issue while introducing additional safeguards to ensure the effective operation of a dual policing system.

“This bill builds on the significant work already done in this regard by the House of Representatives and incorporates additional safeguards to ensure that the creation of a dual policing structure to address our nation’s evolving national security challenges can be achieved quickly and effectively to the benefit of all Nigerians,” the letter stated.

The President described the legislation as a critical aspect of his administration’s efforts to reorganise the country’s security architecture and appealed to lawmakers to accord it speedy legislative consideration.

“The proposed legislation is a critical component of our administration’s strategy to reorganise Nigeria’s security architecture to better protect our citizens, and I am confident that the House of Representatives will act quickly to consider and pass this bill,” Tinubu wrote.

The President also expressed optimism that the National Assembly would expedite work on the proposal, saying he looked forward to its prompt consideration.

The latest move represents the strongest executive push yet for constitutional recognition of state policing, a proposal that has remained one of the country’s most debated constitutional reform issues for over two decades.

Nigeria currently operates a single, centrally controlled police system under the Nigeria Police Force, as provided by the 1999 Constitution. Successive administrations, state governors, security experts and constitutional reform advocates have argued that the country’s centralised policing structure has become overstretched in the face of rising insecurity, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and other violent crimes.

The call for state police has gained momentum in recent years as governors increasingly rely on regional and state-backed security outfits, including Amotekun in the South-West, Ebube Agu in parts of the South-East and various vigilante organisations, to complement federal security agencies.

Supporters of state police argue that decentralising policing would improve intelligence gathering, response time and community policing, while opponents have consistently raised concerns over the potential abuse of state-controlled police by governors for political purposes.

The House of Representatives has, in recent years, considered several constitutional amendment proposals on state police through its Constitution Review Committee, but none has completed the rigorous constitutional amendment process requiring approval by two-thirds of both chambers of the National Assembly and at least 24 state Houses of Assembly.

If passed by the National Assembly and ratified by 24 out of the 36 state assemblies, the bill would amend the Constitution to establish a dual policing system, allowing both the Federal Government and state governments to operate constitutionally recognised police services.

The proposed legislation is expected to trigger fresh debate within the National Assembly and among stakeholders over the structure, powers, funding, oversight and operational safeguards for state police as lawmakers begin consideration of the bill.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

Military veterans have demanded the immediate implementation of the approved N250,000 minimum wage for serving personnel.

They accused the Federal Government of delaying the execution of a law they said was passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Bola Tinubu.

The demand was made on Monday during a retreat attended by over 70 military veterans at the Armed Forces Headquarters Command Mess 1, Abuja.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Olufemi Oluyede, who was expected at the meeting, was represented by five senior military officers.

According to the veterans, the CDS was attending a meeting at the Presidential Villa.

Speaking on what transpired at the meeting, one of the organisers, Col Innocent Azubike (retd.), said the veterans had presented documentary evidence to the military representatives, who acknowledged their submissions and promised to brief the CDS immediately.

He said, “The five Generals that represented the CDS collected the papers presented by veterans and accepted that what the veterans said were facts. They said they would submit their report to the CDS immediately he comes back from the State House.

“We felt pleased that they acknowledged the facts we raised and felt we could give about a week to know the response from the CDS after he receives the report.”

Azubike said the veterans were disappointed that despite assurances from government officials over several months, the approved salary structure had yet to be implemented.

According to him, the National Assembly in October 2025 passed a bill reviewing the salaries of serving and retired military personnel after a comparative assessment showed that Nigeria had the lowest military pay among several African countries.

“The Senate passed a Bill for upward review of the pay of serving and retired military personnel. The House of Representatives gave its concurrence.

“Before passing the Bill, there was a comparative study of military pay scales in some other African nations, and Nigeria’s was found to be ridiculously the lowest.

“The Senate fixed N250,000 as the minimum pay for the least-paid soldier and directed that the required funds be included in the 2026 budget. That was done,” he said.

He added that President Tinubu assented to the bill in November 2025 and directed that the implementation should take effect with three months’ arrears.

“The President assented to the Bill in November 2025 and stated that it would carry three months’ arrears from the date of signing. This was publicly announced by the Presidency and widely reported.

“Thereafter, the Ministry of Defence and the Service Chiefs repeatedly thanked the President and assured both serving and retired personnel that payment would commence soon,” Azubike said.

The retired officers, however, alleged that military authorities had recently denied knowledge of the approved salary increase.

“Then suddenly, in July 2026, the CDS and the Ministry of Defence made a U-turn and started posturing as if there was no such pay increment and asking us to produce documents to that effect.

“To worsen matters, the Minister of Defence, who was the CDS when the bill was passed and who championed it, recently claimed that the President increased the military minimum wage from N49,000 to N100,000.

“That statement sent shockwaves through both serving and retired personnel because it is not correct,” he said.

Azubike explained that the N100,000 salary came into effect following the 2024 national minimum wage adjustment and was unrelated to the military salary review approved in November 2025.

He said the veterans remained committed to their planned peaceful protest to demand implementation of the new salary structure.

“We have clearly stated that we are determined to embark on a peaceful protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance to find out what has become of the approved increment and the funds appropriated for it.

“We are convinced that once we protest, the President will hear directly about the matter and the money will be released by fiat.

“The protest plan remains on course, and donations are still being received so that we can mobilise at short notice if there is any further delay by the authorities,” he added.

The veterans urged the Federal Government to immediately implement the approved salary structure for serving personnel and fulfil the commitments made to members of the Armed Forces.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

The House of Representatives has withdrawn its proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police, opting instead to consider a similar bill transmitted by the Executive.

The development emerged during Tuesday’s plenary, where lawmakers gave the Executive-sponsored state police bill its first and second readings.

The bill was subsequently referred to the House Committee on Constitutional Review for further legislative action.

The decision effectively suspends the House’s earlier proposal as lawmakers shift attention to the Executive-backed amendment.

The Executive bill is expected to undergo detailed scrutiny at the committee stage, where lawmakers will examine its key provisions before it is returned to the floor for further consideration.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN