The Osun State House of Assembly has become the first state legislature to approve the proposed constitutional amendment for the establishment of state police.
The approval came on Tuesday, following the transmission of the State Police Services Bill by the National Assembly to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration.
The National Assembly, however, has clarified that the state police bill is the only constitutional alteration proposal so far transmitted to the state legislatures.
In a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the legislature said reports suggesting that the entire package of proposed constitutional amendments had been sent to the states were incorrect.
Ogunlana said the State Police Services Bill was prioritised in response to public concerns over insecurity and policing in the country.
He explained that the remaining Constitution Alteration Bills would be transmitted to the state Houses of Assembly after they are passed in identical form by both chambers of the National Assembly, in line with the constitutional amendment process.
In Osun, the Speaker of the House, Adewale Egbedun, read a letter from the National Assembly requesting state legislatures to deliberate on and approve the proposed amendment.
During the debate, lawmakers including Lawrence Adeoti, Taofeek Olayiwola, Adewumi Adeyemi and Jeremiah Awoyeye supported the proposal, saying state police would strengthen security at the state and local government levels.
The lawmakers said the proposed amendment would improve the ability of states to deploy security personnel and respond to security challenges within their jurisdictions.
The Majority Leader, Babajide Kofoworola, subsequently moved a motion for the House to support the amendment, which was seconded by Tajudeen Adeyemi.
The lawmakers then unanimously approved the proposed constitutional amendment.
Meanwhile, the Osun Assembly also considered the Osun State Park Management System Bill, 2026, during Tuesday’s plenary.
The House dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider proposed amendments and corrections to the bill, which were subsequently adopted.
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