The Rivers State House of Assembly has endorsed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, seeking to establish a constitutional framework for State Police Services.
All 25 members of the Assembly voted in favour of the bill during plenary on Monday, following consultations with their constituents.
The Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, commended the lawmakers for consulting their constituents before taking a position on the proposed amendment.
Amaewhule said the move was in response to longstanding calls for a policing system at the state level to complement the Nigeria Police Force.
He said the proposed amendment would provide a constitutional pathway for the establishment of State Police Services, while allowing the National Assembly to prescribe minimum standards for policing nationwide.
The Speaker said the bill contains 26 clauses, including 25 proposed alterations involving substitutions to sections of the 1999 Constitution.
He listed provisions targeted for alteration as Sections 84(4), 89(2), 121(3), 124(4), 109(2), 153(1), 157(2), 158(1) and 160, among others.
The Rivers Assembly's decision comes after the National Assembly transmitted the State Police constitutional amendment bill to the 36 state Houses of Assembly on Sept. 16 for consideration and approval. The National Assembly has clarified that the State Police Services Bill is the only constitutional alteration proposal so far transmitted to the state legislatures.
Osun State had earlier become the first state legislature to approve the proposed constitutional amendment.
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