The Rivers House of Assembly on Monday endorsed the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, seeking to provide a constitutional framework for establishing state police services.

All 25 members of the assembly voted in favour of the bill during plenary, after consulting their constituents.

The Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, commended members for their consultations, which he said informed their decision to support the bill.

“We are already aware that over time, Nigerians have been clamouring for an opportunity to have a policing system at the subnational level to complement the federal police.

“By this vote, the 10th assembly is fully in support of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill 2026,” he said.

Mr Amaewhule said state lawmakers supported the federal government’s efforts to prioritise the security of lives and property across the country.

“For us, having police at the subnational level helping the federal police is indeed a welcome development.

”We believe that we shall work together alongside other state assemblies towards a more efficiently secured nation,” he added.

Mr Amaewhule also said that the bill was expected to create a constitutional pathway for state police services, subject to the provisions of the constitution.

He said that, once passed, the amendment would strengthen the National Assembly’s role in setting national minimum policing standards.

The speaker explained that the bill contained 26 clauses, with 25 alterations substituting sections of the principal Act.

He listed Sections 84(4), 89(2), 121(3) 124(4), 109(2), 153(1), 157(2), 158(1) and 160 among the provisions for alteration.

The National Assembly had recently transmitted the state police constitutional amendment bill to the 36 state houses of assembly for consideration and approval.

(NAN)