The Lagos State House of Assembly has permitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, becoming a member of 24 different state legislatures in supporting the proposed modification and paving the best way for its presentation to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
The lawmakers permitted the invoice throughout Tuesday’s plenary, presided over by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, following its transmission by the National Assembly for concurrence.
The improvement types a part of the continuing constitutional evaluate course of, underneath which the National Assembly forwarded the proposed modification to all 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, had defined that the method adopted Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, which requires a minimum of two-thirds of state legislatures, representing 24 out of 36 states, to approve a proposed constitutional modification earlier than it may be submitted to the President for assent.
A serious part of the present modification course of is the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, which has generated appreciable debate throughout the nation.
The proposal seeks to introduce a decentralised policing system comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services. President Tinubu has backed the reform and inaugurated a Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill to develop the authorized framework for its implementation.
Supporters of state police argue that decentralising regulation enforcement would convey safety providers nearer to communities, enhance responses to native threats and allow states to handle their particular safety challenges extra successfully.
During Tuesday’s deliberations, Obasa described the proposed modification as a well timed improvement that had been wanted for years.
“I strongly believe the proposed amendment is a good one for us. For so many years, and at every section by each assembly that has come, we always have a reason to deal with issues that has to do with security of our nation for the security of our people. So, it is a good one for us that this is taking place and happening in this 10th Assembly. Both the Senate and House of Representatives have done their own bits and sent to all Houses of Assembly. I congratulate each one of us,” the Speaker stated.
After the invoice was adopted via a voice vote, Obasa praised the National Assembly for advancing the reform however expressed concern that the proposed framework nonetheless gave the Federal Government appreciable management over state policing.
“Even though we are happy that we are having state police, our interest and position has not been well taken care of in this alteration. As you follow, you would realise that the major control still lies at the central. There is a provision that says where there is a conflict between the State Assembly and National Assembly, the federal prevails. But it is still a step forward. I want to believe that there is hope in the future that will give total control to the state,” he stated.
The Speaker additionally counseled Tinubu for his dedication to democratic establishments and acknowledged the contributions of the National Assembly to the constitutional modification course of.
“I want to thank the President for his firm belief in democratic institutions. We appreciate him. We commend both the National Assembly and House of Representatives for this move. We are not there yet. We still hope they will do the needful in appropriate time,” Obasa added.
He additionally known as for the introduction of a Parliamentary Police to guard legislative establishments, citing the necessity for stronger safeguards towards actions that might threaten the independence and safety of state legislatures.
Obasa proposed that the related regulation ought to present for such a safety association, much like the system within the United States, warning that previous incidents had uncovered the vulnerability of legislative establishments to political interference.
“There is no such provision in the state. There should be in the Act provision for the Parliamentary Police as we have in the United States if we are ready to protect the Legislature. Learning from past incidents, a government will demolish a parliament just like that because of one person’s interest and desire. For this not to happen again, Parliamentary Police will go a long way in strengthening the legislation,” he stated.
The Lagos Assembly subsequently adjourned plenary till November 9, 2026.
