The Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, has met the threshold of two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly as required by law, the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill said on Friday.

Chairman of the group and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed in a statement that the bill has been approved by 24 Houses of Assembly.

“The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill notes with satisfaction that the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, providing for a dual policing system, has been approved by 24 State Houses of Assembly, meeting the constitutional threshold of two-thirds of the 36 states,” it said.

“The Working Group commends the State Houses of Assembly for their decisive action on this reform of national importance and appreciates the National Assembly for passing the amendment in both chambers.”

Presidential Working Group On State Police

It said that in line with Section 9 of the Constitution, the amendment can now be returned to the National Assembly for transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

The approval is expected to give constitutional backing to the policing framework that the working group’s draft National Policing Bill, 2026 is designed to implement.

The group stated that while its efforts remain on track, the draft bills are currently undergoing legislative drafting review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice and are expected to be returned on or before Friday, October 30, 2026.

“Thereafter, the Group will give them final consideration before presenting them to Mr President,” it added.

“The Working Group urges all stakeholders to support a smooth transition to a dual policing system that makes Nigerians safer.”

The Presidential Working Group on October 19 said it had completed the drafting stage of its assignment and formally submitted the draft National Policing Bill (2026), together with 29 consequential amendment bills, to the Federal Ministry of Justice for legislative drafting review and validation.

The justice ministry’s review is aimed at ensuring that the bills conform to legislative drafting standards and conventions and that they do not conflict with existing laws.

“The Ministry of Justice is expected to return the validated draft bills to the Working Group on or before Friday, 30th October 2026. The Working Group will then give the validated bills final consideration before presenting them to Mr President, thereby concluding its mandate,” Gbajabiamila had said in a statement.

The proposed policing bill seeks to establish the constitutional and legislative framework for a dual policing structure, comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services, to improve security at the grassroots. (Channels TV)