The proposed establishment of state police and the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps are expected to take centre stage as the National Assembly resumes plenary on Tuesday.
Lawmakers are also expected to consider constitutional and electoral reforms, insecurity and other major national issues.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, said the constitutional amendment process, particularly the proposal for state police, would be among the issues receiving attention.
Adaramodu said the National Assembly was awaiting the response of the state Houses of Assembly to the proposed amendment.
He stated, “Our priorities on resumption are about revisiting the constitutional amendments which we have put together. I am sure you are aware that we have sent the state police bill to the state Houses of Assembly and we are expecting its return. So, we are going to expand on that and look into it.”
The National Assembly transmitted the 1999 Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, seeking to establish State Police Services, to the 36 state legislatures on September 16.
The move followed renewed demands for a decentralised policing system amid persistent insecurity across the country.
The legislature subsequently clarified that the State Police Bill was the only constitutional amendment proposal so far forwarded to the state assemblies.
According to a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, other Constitution Alteration Bills would be transmitted after both chambers had passed them in identical form.
The lawmakers said prioritising the state police proposal was informed by widespread concerns about security and policing in the country.
Also expected to come before both chambers is the September 17 death of 37 suspected illegal miners while in NSCDC custody in Niger State.
A National Assembly source said lawmakers were expected to examine the incident following President Bola Tinubu’s directive for an investigation.
The source said, “You know the National Assembly was on recess when the incident was reported. However, following President Bola Tinubu’s call for a probe to unravel what happened, I heard the National Assembly will also deliberate on it from tomorrow (Tuesday).”
Following the deaths, the Federal Government constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the panel after the President ordered a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the deaths.
The minister also directed the suspension of officers allegedly linked to the incident.
The NSCDC later detained 21 personnel over the deaths and subsequently arrested three more, bringing the number of personnel in custody to 24.
The Corps said the affected personnel had been transferred from its Niger State Command to the national headquarters in Abuja for questioning and administrative disciplinary proceedings.
The NSCDC also directed that its flags be flown at half-mast across its formations for three days in honour of the deceased.
With the lawmakers returning from recess, the proposed state police framework and the Niger miners’ deaths are expected to feature prominently in discussions on security, policing and accountability.
