The Rivers State House of Assembly has endorsed the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, seeking to create a constitutional framework for the establishment of state police services.
All 25 lawmakers voted in favour of the bill during Monday’s plenary after consulting their constituents.
The Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, commended the lawmakers for engaging their constituents before taking a position on the proposed amendment.
He said the move reflected years of calls by Nigerians for a policing system at the state level to complement the Nigeria Police Force.
“We are already aware that over time, Nigerians have been clamouring for an opportunity to have a policing system at the subnational level to complement the federal police,” Amaewhule said.
He added that the 10th Assembly supported efforts to improve the security of lives and property across the country.
“For us, having police at the subnational level helping the federal police is indeed a welcomed development,” he said.
Amaewhule said the lawmakers would work with other state assemblies towards creating a more effective security system.
He explained that the proposed amendment would provide a constitutional pathway for establishing state police services while maintaining national standards.
According to him, the amendment would also strengthen the role of the National Assembly in setting minimum standards for policing across the country.
The Speaker said the bill contains 26 clauses, including 25 proposed alterations involving substitutions to sections of the 1999 Constitution.
Among the provisions listed for amendment are Sections 84(4), 89(2), 121(3), 124(4), 109(2), 153(1), 157(2), 158(1) and 160.
The Osun State House of Assembly was earlier reported to be the first state legislature to approve the proposed constitutional amendment for the establishment of state police.
The National Assembly had clarified that only the State Police Services Bill was transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration, following reports that the entire package of proposed constitutional amendments had been forwarded to them.
