Rivers State House of Assembly has endorsed the constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police across Nigeria….
Rivers State House of Assembly has endorsed the constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police across Nigeria.
All 25 lawmakers present at Monday’s plenary voted in favour of the proposal, 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.
A key provision of the proposed amendment would empower state governors to appoint commissioners of police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by the state Houses of Assembly.
The lawmakers also highlighted safeguards intended to prevent abuse of the proposed state policing structure and protect political freedoms and civil liberties.
Presenting the bill, the Assembly said the amendment would create a constitutional pathway for establishing state police services, subject to the Constitution and an Act of the National Assembly prescribing national minimum policing standards.
The bill also provides that the Nigeria Police Force would remain the default policing authority in any state until a state police service is lawfully established and certified operational.
Following the vote, the Speaker declared that all 25 lawmakers present supported the amendment, with no opposition or abstention.
The Rivers State House of Assembly thereby became one of the state legislatures considering the constitutional amendment as part of the process required for altering the Constitution.
