Rivers assembly backs state police bill

File photo: Rivers State House of Assembly

The Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday endorsed the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, seeking to provide a constitutional framework for establishing State Police Services.

All 25 members of the Assembly voted in favour of the bill during plenary, following consultations with their constituents.

The Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, commended members for their consultations which he said informed their decision to support the bill.

“We are already aware that over time, Nigerians have been clamouring for an opportunity to have a policing system at the subnational level to complement the federal police.

“By this voting, the 10th Assembly is fully in support of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill 2026,” he said.

Amaewhule said the state lawmakers supported efforts by the Federal Government to prioritise the security of lives and property across the country.

“For us, having police at the subnational level helping the federal police is indeed a welcomed development.

”We believe that we shall work together alongside other state assemblies towards a more efficiently secured nation,” he added.

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Amaewhule also said that the bill was expected to create a constitutional pathway for state police services, subject to the provisions of the constitution.

He said that when passed, the amendment would strengthen the National Assembly’s role in prescribing national minimum policing standards.

The speaker explained that the bill contained 26 clauses, with 25 alterations involving substitutions to sections of the principal Act.

He listed Sections 84(4), 89(2), 121(3) 124(4), 109(2), 153(1), 157(2), 158(1) and 160 among the provisions for alteration.

The PUNCH reports that Osun State House of Assembly became the first state legislature to approve the proposed constitutional amendment for the establishment of state police, as the National Assembly clarified that only the State Police Services Bill had been transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly.

The clarification came amid reports suggesting that the National Assembly had forwarded the entire package of proposed Constitution alterations to the state legislatures for consideration.