The House of Representatives has rescinded the passage of its Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish State Police Services across the Federation following the presentation of an Executive Bill on the subject transmitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu.
The spokesperson, House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
What happened
The House had earlier passed its version of the State Police Constitution Alteration Bill on Thursday, 11 June 2026, and subsequently constituted a 12-member Conference Committee on Thursday, 9 July 2026, to harmonise differences between the versions passed by the House and the Senate.
However, Mr Rotimi said following the transmission of the Executive Bill, the House determined that new considerations relating to the structure, framework, and implementation of State Police Services necessitated an efficient legislative approach to ensure a coherent constitutional framework consistent with Nigeria’s evolving national security architecture.
He said the decision followed the adoption of a motion titled “Need to Rescind the Resolution on 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 and the Composition of the Conference Committee Pursuant to Order Nine, Rule 6 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives.”
He added that the motion was sponsored by the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive (APC, Delta).
Why the change
Accordingly, Mr Rotimi said the House rescinded its earlier resolution and dissolved the Conference Committee, paving the way for consideration of the Executive Bill and avoiding parallel constitutional amendment processes on the same subject.
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The Executive Bill, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2026 (HB. 2797), was presented for First Reading, and subsequently passed Second Reading after the debate was led by the House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, CON (APC, Edo), and thereafter referred to the House Committee on Constitution Review for further legislative action.
The House emphasised that its decision should not be construed as a withdrawal of legislative support for State Police.
Rather, it said it reflects the resolve of the House, working in concert with the Executive, to ensure that the constitutional framework establishing State Police Services is comprehensive, effective, and responsive to Nigeria’s evolving security realities.
“The House of Representatives remains committed to advancing constitutional reforms through a transparent and rigorous legislative process that strengthens Nigeria’s democratic institutions and responds effectively to the nation’s evolving governance and security needs,” the statement said.
