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The proposed establishment of state police, financial autonomy for local governments and electoral reforms are among the major constitutional amendment initiatives moving to the next stage as the National Assembly transmits the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states for consideration.
The transmission, carried out on Wednesday by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, requires the state legislatures to consider the bill and communicate their resolutions in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The provision requires approval by at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly, representing 24 legislatures, before the National Assembly can complete the constitutional amendment process.
The priority proposals include the creation of state police services, local government financial autonomy, independent candidacy, establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission, special legislative seats for women and judicial reforms.
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The state police proposal seeks to establish a dual policing structure comprising federal and state police services, while the local government reforms seek to strengthen the autonomy and constitutional protection of the third tier of government.
Ogunlana said the state assemblies were expected to communicate their resolutions within 30 days of receiving the bill, clarifying that the timeframe was administrative and not a constitutional deadline.
He added that the National Assembly recognised the independence and constitutional responsibilities of the state legislatures and that the process would be conducted in compliance with the Constitution and principles of due process.
