The 36 state governors of the federation have thrown their weight behind the immediate creation of state police, insisting that the emerging security architecture must be constitutionally sound and properly aligned with the principles of federalism and citizens' rights. Operating under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, the state executives noted that ongoing consultations with various institutional stakeholders, including state attorneys-general, would strengthen their collective positions. This resolution comes on the heels of significant legislative progress at the National Assembly, where the House of Representatives recently voted overwhelmingly with 289 out of 290 lawmakers supporting the constitutional amendment bill, while the legislation similarly scaled its second reading in the Senate.
Meeting in Abuja from Wednesday night through early Thursday morning, the governors deliberated on critical national matters under the chairmanship of Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. The forum received a technical presentation from its secretariat alongside a delegation of state attorneys-general on the structural and legal frameworks necessary to operationalize state policing. The governors had previously backed the proactive development of a readiness framework covering governance structures, sustainable financing models, human capital standards, digital operations, and accountability oversight mechanisms to prepare for the impending constitutional alterations.
Reading the official communiqué after the extensive deliberations, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun stated, “We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum at our meeting held today, deliberated on issues affecting the country. Following extensive deliberations, the Forum resolved as follows: The Forum received a presentation from the NGF Secretariat and a delegation of the Attorneys-General of the states on efforts to support establishing State Police in Nigeria. It noted a dedicated consultation with the Attorneys-General to review the proposed constitutional amendments and frameworks.” Governor Abiodun continued reading the resolution, stating, “Governors emphasised the need for the State Police to be constitutionally sound and aligned with federalism and citizens’ rights. The Forum noted the collaborative effort and added that the consultation outcomes would strengthen the states’ collective position.”
The proposed constitutional framework introduces a new Section 214, which explicitly establishes two distinct policing bodies comprising the Federal Police and a State Police for any state that enacts an enabling law. Under these guidelines, the National Assembly is mandated to pass an Act outlining the organization of the federal forces and providing a baseline framework for the sub-national entities. A State Police cannot commence operational duties until its establishing law is passed by the State House of Assembly and certified as meeting national minimum standards. A transitional safety clause ensures that the Federal Police will continue all policing functions within a state until its local counterpart becomes operational, after which the federal body will focus on federal mandates and provide mutual assistance.
To prevent political victimization and federal overreach, the new Section 214 mandates that the Federal Police cannot interfere with state police operations or internal state security affairs except under highly limited conditions. These exceptions include containing serious threats during a complete breakdown of law and order where the state forces are unable to respond, when a governor formally requests federal intervention, or when a state police faces severe administrative or financial failure. Any such federal intervention must receive prior clearance from the National Police Council, while the Federal Capital Territory will remain entirely under the operational command of the Federal Police.
The command structure under the new Section 215 stipulates that the Federal Police will be led by an Inspector-General of Police, who will be appointed by the President on the advice of the National Police Council from among serving federal officers, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly. Conversely, each State Police will be headed by a Commissioner of Police, appointed by the state governor on the advice of the National Police Council from serving state officers, subject to confirmation by the State House of Assembly. While governors can issue lawful directions regarding public safety to their respective commissioners, a safeguard allows a commissioner to refer any direction perceived as unlawful or contrary to policing standards to the National Police Council for a final and binding decision.
Strict rules have also been designed for the removal of top security officers under Section 216 to protect them from arbitrary political dismissal. The Inspector-General of Police can only be removed by the President following a recommendation by the National Police Council based on specific grounds such as grave misconduct, bankruptcy, mental incapacity, or breach of regulations, and this action requires a two-thirds majority approval from the National Assembly. Similarly, a state governor can only remove a State Commissioner of Police on the recommendation of the National Police Council for identical infractions, subject to a two-thirds majority approval from the State House of Assembly. To ease the financial burden on sub-national governments, Section 216A mandates that the federal government shall provide financial grants and aid to state police forces based on council recommendations and parliamentary approval.
The oversight architecture relies heavily on a restructured National Police Council, which replaces the old Nigeria Police Council and features an expanded membership. The council will include a presidential appointee as chairman, the Attorney-General of the Federation, state attorneys-general, a senior serving federal police officer, retired commissioners of police representing the six geopolitical zones, and representatives from the National Human Rights Commission, the Public Complaints Commission, the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, and traditional rulers' councils. This body will oversee both police structures, manage top-level appointments, and set unified standards for training, forensics, and intelligence. At the sub-national level, a State Police Service Commission will be created in each state to handle the appointment, promotion, and discipline of local officers below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police.
On the concurrent legislative list, the National Assembly retains the power to legislate on firearms, use of force, criminal databases, and intergovernmental cooperation, but federal laws cannot grant federal authorities routine command or administrative control over state police personnel. State Houses of Assembly are empowered to legislate on the funding and administration of their forces, provided they meet or exceed national minimum standards. Consequential amendments will update references to the police across multiple sections of the 1999 Constitution, adjusting the Exclusive Legislative List to accommodate light arms for local policing and shared forensic biometrics.
Beyond security, the governors evaluated proposals to address infrastructure gaps and power shortages across the country. Governor Abiodun read the forum's stance on the energy sector, stating, “The Forum received a presentation on the National Solar Super-Grid, NSSG, Initiative, a proposal to expand electricity access through large-scale, decentralised solar generation integrated with a national high-voltage transmission network. The Forum noted the initiative’s potential to support industrialisation, improve energy security, strengthen state electricity markets, and accelerate economic growth. Governors reiterated their commitment to ongoing power sector reforms and to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders to expand access to reliable and affordable electricity for Nigerians.”
The governors also addressed the critical issue of child malnutrition by committing to support the National Nutrition 774 Initiative. Reading the agricultural and social welfare resolutions from the communiqué, Governor Abiodun stated, “The Forum received a presentation from the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning on progress under the National Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative. The Forum reaffirmed the governors’ commitment to improving nutrition outcomes and reducing child malnutrition across Nigeria. The Forum also noted the ongoing work on the National Nutrition Bill and encouraged continued engagement with relevant stakeholders to strengthen the legal and policy framework for nutrition governance. The Forum received a briefing from the World Bank Country Office on the proposed Country Partnership Framework, CPF, for Nigeria covering the period FY2026–2032; the proposed Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value-Chains for Growth, AGROW, Programme, a results-based initiative designed to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen value chains, increase private sector participation, enhance food security, and Early Childhood Development, ECD. The Forum supports ongoing collaboration with the Federal Government, the World Bank, and other stakeholders to ensure successful implementation and deliver benefits to participating states. Governors approved state-specific interventions and stressed the importance of better coordination across sectors like health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation, social protection, and family support.”