The Senate has fixed November 15, 2026, as the final deadline for the six state Houses of Assembly yet to communicate their positions on the proposed establishment of state police, as efforts to advance the constitutional amendment gather momentum.

The decision was reached during Wednesday’s plenary following an update by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who informed lawmakers that 30 out of the 36 state Houses of Assembly had approved the proposed constitutional amendment to pave the way for the establishment of state police in the country.

With the approval secured from 30 states, the proposal has surpassed the constitutionally required two-thirds majority of 24 state Houses of Assembly needed for the passage of an amendment to the Constitution.

However, the Senate leadership has decided to allow the remaining six states additional time to study the proposal and formally communicate their positions before the conclusion of the legislative process.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, while addressing the matter during plenary, appealed for an extension of time to enable the outstanding state assemblies to complete their deliberations and indicate whether they support or reject the proposed amendment.

The Senate consequently fixed November 15 as the final date for the six outstanding state legislatures to respond, making it clear that any assembly that fails to communicate its position by the deadline would be regarded as having withheld its approval.

The development represents a significant milestone in the ongoing constitutional amendment process aimed at introducing state-controlled police structures as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s growing security challenges.

Proponents of state police have consistently argued that the existing centralised policing system has become inadequate to effectively tackle insecurity across the country, particularly in rural communities and areas facing persistent threats from banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other criminal activities.

They maintain that allowing state governments to establish and manage their own police formations would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community-based security operations and ensure faster responses to security threats.

However, concerns have also been raised about the possibility of state governors abusing the proposed arrangement for political purposes, as well as the need to establish effective safeguards to guarantee professionalism, accountability and respect for fundamental human rights.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has indicated that the proposed constitutional amendment is expected to be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent following the completion of the required legislative procedures.

The November 15 deadline is therefore expected to provide an opportunity for the six outstanding state assemblies to make their positions known before the next stage of the constitutional amendment process.

If successfully concluded, the proposed establishment of state police would mark a major shift in Nigeria’s policing structure and could significantly reshape the country’s approach to internal security and law enforcement.