The Senate has referred to the Constitution, Sixth Alteration, Bill, 2026, seeking to establish State Police, to the Senate Committee on Constitution Review headed by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin.

The upper chamber also stepped down further debate on the proposed legislation to allow for broader legislative consideration, noting that the matter is already before the Constitution Review Committee as part of ongoing efforts to amend the 1999 Constitution.

The bill seeks to move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, a constitutional adjustment that would enable state governments to establish and operate their own police services, alongside the Nigeria Police Force.

Leading the debate, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, described the proposal as a critical response to Nigeria's worsening security challenges, arguing that localized policing would strengthen intelligence gathering and improve rapid response to crimes and security threats within communities.

However, during the deliberations, Senator Adamu Aliero raised a constitutional point of order, urging the Senate to ensure that the proposal follows the prescribed constitutional amendment procedure, given its far-reaching implications for Nigeria's governance and security architecture.

Following the intervention, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, ruled that the bill be transmitted to the Senate Committee on Constitution Review for comprehensive consideration alongside other constitutional amendment proposals.

The Constitution Review Committee is expected to conduct wider consultations with relevant stakeholders before presenting its recommendations to the Senate for further legislative action.