The Ondo State House of Assembly has approved a constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police services in Nigeria.
The bill, titled the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, was passed during plenary on Monday, with all lawmakers present voting in support.
The motion for its passage was moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Olatunji Oshati, and seconded by Allen Oluwatoyin, who represents Ese-Odo State Constituency.
Oshati said the lawmakers had carefully examined the proposed amendment and its potential impact on the security of lives and property.
He maintained that the introduction of state police would help address the country’s persistent security challenges.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, described the proposed reform as a long-awaited step towards improving security across the country.
According to him, decentralising policing would enable security agencies to respond more effectively to criminal activities and emerging security threats.
“State policing would help reduce crime through improved intelligence gathering and proactive security measures,” Oladiji said.
The Speaker commended members of the Assembly for their contributions to the passage of the bill.
He subsequently directed the Clerk of the House, Benjamin Jaiyeola, to forward the approved document, alongside the legislature’s observations, to the National Assembly for further legislative action.
With the passage, Ondo State has joined other states that have approved the proposed constitutional amendment to pave the way for the establishment of state police in Nigeria.
