In a major legislative realignment, the House of Representatives on Tuesday rescinded its earlier resolution on a self-sponsored constitutional amendment bill to establish State Police Services, choosing instead to advance a fresh executive proposal transmitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The decision, which immediately halted the harmonisation of the National Assembly's previous draft, is aimed at ensuring a unified, coherent constitutional framework for Nigeria’s evolving security architecture. During the plenary session, lawmakers quickly passed the President's bill through its first and second readings before referring it to the House Committee on Constitution Review.
The shift followed the reading of a presidential letter dated June 15, 2026, by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. In the letter, President Tinubu presented the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, urging the parliament to expedite its passage as a vital component of his administration’s strategy to restructure and strengthen national security.
According to the President, the new executive bill incorporates additional administrative and political safeguards to ensure that the transition to a dual policing system does not compromise national stability. President Tinubu noted that the proposal builds upon the groundwork already laid by the National Assembly to create a functional system beneficial to all Nigerians.
Immediately after the communication was read, the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Representative Francis Waive of Delta State, moved a motion to rescind the chamber's June 11 passage of its original state police bill. Waive also called for the dissolution of the 12-member conference committee that had been constituted on July 9 to harmonise differences between the House and Senate versions of the legislation.
Waive justified the withdrawal by explaining that critical new developments regarding the implementation and structure of the dual policing system had emerged, requiring a comprehensive legislative review to align perfectly with the country's security frameworks. The House subsequently adopted the motion through an overwhelming voice vote presided over by Speaker Abbas.