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The Oyo State House of Assembly has passed the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish State Police Services, formally adding the state to those backing the proposed alteration of the 1999 constitution.
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The lawmakers passed the bill for third reading on Tuesday after constituting themselves into a committee of the whole and considering its provisions clause by clause.
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The development comes after the Rivers and Osun State Houses of Assembly also backed the constitutional amendment proposal.
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At least 24 state legislatures must approve the relevant constitutional alteration. Oyo’s resolution will now be communicated to the National Assembly as the Federal Parliament continues to collate the decisions of the state Houses of Assembly on the proposed State Police framework.
September 30, (THEWILL) – The Oyo State House of Assembly has backed the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish State Police Services, becoming the latest state legislature to advance the proposal aimed at changing Nigeria’s policing structure.
The bill was passed for third reading on Tuesday after the Assembly constituted itself into a Committee of the Whole and considered its provisions clause by clause during plenary session presided over by the House Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin.
The development followed the transmission of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, by the National Assembly to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval.
The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to provide the legal and constitutional framework for the establishment of State Police Services across the country.
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Oyo Joins States Backing Amendment
The Oyo State House of Assembly’s action follows similar moves by the Rivers and Osun State Houses of Assembly, which have also backed the proposed constitutional amendment
The growing consideration of the bill by state legislatures represents the next major stage in the process after the National Assembly passed the proposal and transmitted it to the states.
The National Assembly had asked the 36 state Houses of Assembly to consider the bill in accordance with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions after completing their deliberations.
The resolutions are expected to be collated by the National Assembly as part of the constitutional amendment process.
24-State Approval Required
The proposed amendment faces a constitutionally prescribed threshold before it can become part of the nation’s supreme law.
Under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, an alteration of the Constitution requires the support of at least two-thirds of all members of each chamber of the National Assembly and approval by resolutions of the Houses of Assembly of not less than two-thirds of all states.
With Nigeria having 36 states, the requirement translates to approval by at least 24 state Houses of Assembly.
The state-level approval is therefore a critical stage in the effort to establish State Police Services through constitutional amendment.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
