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The Rivers State House of Assembly has unanimously endorsed the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish State Police Services, with all 25 lawmakers present voting in favour of the bill.
The endorsement came during Monday’s plenary, following 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 session was presided over by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, who said the Assembly supported efforts by President Bola Tinubu to strengthen security and protect lives and property through the proposed creation of state police.
Before the vote, Amaewhule reminded lawmakers that Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution provides the procedure for constitutional alteration, including approval by at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly.
“As required by the Constitution, our responsibility will be to vote whether or not we approve of the alteration of the Constitution so proposed by the National Assembly. No debate is allowed; we will just vote whether we accept or we do not accept,” he told the lawmakers.
The Speaker said the proposed amendment would provide a constitutional framework for State Police Services while retaining the Federal Police Service as the default policing authority until a state police service is lawfully established and certified operational.
He said the proposal also provides safeguards covering civilian control, human rights, national minimum policing standards, police service commissions, intergovernmental cooperation, firearms control and exceptional federal intervention where there is a breakdown, serious incapacity, national security threat or serious abuse.
After the bill was read to the House, the lawmakers voted by a show of hands. The Clerk subsequently announced 25 votes in favour, with none against and no abstention.
“By this voting, the 10th Assembly of Rivers State is fully in support of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, 2022,” Amaewhule declared.
The Speaker said the Assembly would continue to support measures aimed at improving security across the country.
“Anything that needs to be done towards ensuring that our people are properly protected, so that people can move freely, stay in their houses, go about their normal businesses without fear or hindrance by anybody or group of persons, will continue to be our top priority,” he said.
Amaewhule described the proposed introduction of policing at the sub-national level as a welcome development, stressing the need for all levels of government to work together.
“We believe in this 10th Assembly of Rivers State that everybody needs to work together. We don’t expect that there will be any state assembly that will say no to this particular effort, so that everybody can begin to work in tandem for our people to heave a sigh of relief,” he said.
The National Assembly transmitted the State Police constitutional amendment to the state legislatures on September 16 as part of the constitutional alteration process. At least 24 of the 36 state Houses of Assembly must approve the proposal before it can proceed to the next stage.
The Rivers decision adds to the state-level consideration of the proposal, with Osun having earlier become the first state assembly to endorse the amendment, while other legislatures have also begun considering the bill.
