Delta Assembly Approves State Police Bill as Constitutional Reform Advances

The Delta State House of Assembly has approved a proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police services in Nigeria, adding its support to the growing push for a decentralised policing system amid persistent security challenges. The approval was granted during plenary on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, with all 23 lawmakers present voting in favour of the proposal. No member voted against it, while none abstained. The debate was led by the House Leader during a sitting presided over by the Speaker, Emomotimi Guwor. Following the vote, Guwor commended the lawmakers for supporting the proposed reform, saying a policing structure that responds more directly to local security concerns could strengthen the protection of lives and property. He said the proposal held significant promise for Delta State, particularly in improving security, sustaining peace and creating a safer environment for investment and development. The Speaker added that the decision aligned with the state government's MORE Agenda under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. He subsequently directed the Clerk of the Assembly to communicate the House's approval to the National Assembly for further action. State Police Bill Receives Delta Assembly's Backing The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to provide a legal framework for states to establish their own police services alongside the federal police structure. Supporters of the reform argue that decentralising policing could improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community-based security operations and enable law enforcement agencies to respond more effectively to threats within their jurisdictions. The proposal has attracted renewed attention amid persistent cases of kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, communal violence and other security challenges across the country. Advocates maintain that state governments, which are often expected to respond to local security concerns, need a greater role in policing their communities. However, the proposed arrangement would still require constitutional safeguards and appropriate oversight to address concerns about political interference, accountability, funding and the protection of citizens' rights. Delta's approval adds to the states that have endorsed the proposed constitutional alteration. Constitutional Amendment Still Requires More States Despite the approval by the Delta Assembly, the proposal has not yet become law. Under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, an amendment requires approval by resolutions of at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly, equivalent to 24 states, before it can proceed to presidential assent. The National Assembly transmitted the proposed state police constitutional amendment to the state legislatures in September 2026, beginning a crucial stage in the process. As of October 15, five state assemblies—Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Zamfara—had approved the proposal, according to reports published by The PUNCH. Delta's decision on October 20 therefore brings the reported number of approving states to six, assuming no additional approvals have occurred in the interim. The proposal consequently remains short of the constitutional threshold required for the amendment to proceed. The National Assembly will need to receive and verify the decisions of the state legislatures before determining whether the required level of support has been secured. National Assembly Faces Further Legislative Work The approval process forms part of broader efforts to reform Nigeria's policing architecture and establish a constitutional basis for state-controlled police services. The National Assembly had earlier passed the proposed amendment before forwarding it to the state legislatures for consideration. The reform is intended to retain a federal policing structure while providing states with a constitutional pathway to establish their own services, subject to the relevant legal provisions and safeguards. The Federal Government has also been working on a separate National Policing Bill intended to provide further details for the proposed system. On October 15, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, said that bill was about 90 per cent ready for transmission to the National Assembly, according to a report by The PUNCH. The constitutional amendment and the proposed National Policing Bill are related to the wider reform process, but they are distinct legislative measures. For the constitutional proposal to advance, the required number of state assemblies must first approve the amendment. Delta's decision represents another step in that process, but further legislative action remains necessary before state police services can be established under the proposed constitutional framework.