The Senate on Wednesday passed the State Police Service Establishment Bill 2026.

The landmark legislation, which is also a constitutional amendment bill, will end the 66 years of the country’s single, federal policing system and establish a dual structure that allows states to have their own police operating side-by-side with the federal police.

Senators voted manually on the 26-clause bill by raising their hands to ensure that they were physically counted, with a majority number surpassing the mandatory two-thirds (73) supporting all the clauses.

The method was adopted to avoid any disagreement in the future and, more importantly, to have every senator recorded to have voted either for or against the bill.

The first, second and third readings of the bill were done on Wednesday to underscore the urgency of state police as a community-inclusive response to the increasing security challenges facing the country.

The House of Representatives has already passed the state police bill. It awaits transmission to the State House for the assent of President Bola Tinubu.

In his lead debate, spearheading voting, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele said the “realities of contemporary Nigeria” had proven that a central policing system was no longer fashionable.

He explained, “It is common knowledge that Nigeria is a vast Federation, comprising Thirty-Six (36) States and the Federal Capital Territory with diverse cultures, languages, geographical terrains, security dynamics and socio-economic conditions.

“The increasing complexity of security threats, which include terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal conflicts, farmer-herder clashes, cybercrime, organised criminal networks and other transnational crimes, has placed enormous pressure on the existing policing framework.

“The present structure often limits the ability of local authorities to respond swiftly and effectively to security challenges within their jurisdictions. Consequently, there has been a growing national consensus among stakeholders, including State Governments, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, security experts and notable scholars, on the need to decentralise policing, while also preserving national unity and security coordination.”

One of the major concerns over state police is the possibility of being abused by political actors, especially state governors.

The Senate reassured Nigerians and opposition interests that such concerns had been addressed by introducing many legal safeguards in the bill.

Bamidele said, “One of the major concerns expressed regarding the establishment of State Police is the potential for political abuse by State Governments.

“This Bill directly addresses that concern by prohibiting any governor from directing a State Police Service to target specific persons, political parties, groups or associations unlawfully.

“The Bill also expressly prohibits the use of police powers for partisan, ethnic, religious, sectional or personal purposes.”

No senator opposed the bill throughout the proceedings, further confirming the unity of the Senate in backing state police.

A delegation from the Presidency led by the Chief of Staff to President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, was in the Senate’s chamber on Wednesday to witness the proceedings. It showed the importance the State House attached to the bill.

State governors were also represented. The Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun; Vice-Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani; Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State; and Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, represented their colleagues.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and many state AGFs were also at the Senate.

However, there was a mild drama initially as senators refused to allow governors into the chamber to witness the proceedings.

A motion moved by Bamidele seeking to allow the governors into the chamber was roundly defeated.

They were only permitted to observe proceedings from the gallery.

But the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, not being comfortable with the development, pleaded with senators to reverse their decision.

Akpabio reminded senators that passing the state police bill was not the duty of the National Assembly alone, as it would require the approval of state assemblies.

He warned that the governors could still influence the decision of the assemblies if they harbour the feeling that they were treated without respect by senators.

On the intervention of Akpabio and Bamidele, senators rescinded the decision and allowed the governors to enter the chamber.

It was not immediately clear what informed the action of the lawmakers.

However, the Nigerian Tribune learnt many senators were still nursing the pain of losing their re-election tickets. They were said to have felt “manipulated” out of the 2027 race by the governors.

“At this stage, a senator who has no hopes of returning in 2027 doesn’t feel that he owes any governor allegiance,” one source told the newspaper.

The Senate also passed the Police Trust Fund Bill on Wednesday to seek alternative ways of providing adequate funding for the police and strengthening security measures to combat criminality.

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