- The House of Representatives has stepped down its independent State Police Constitution Alteration Bill to prioritize President Bola Tinubu’s Executive Bill.
- House Spokesman Akin Rotimi clarified that this is a legislative step to build a singular, coherent constitutional framework rather than a withdrawal of support.
- The President’s bill, registered as HB. 2797, successfully scaled its first and second readings on Tuesday and has been referred to the House Committee on Constitution Review.
The House of Representatives on Tuesday clarified its decision to rescind its earlier constitutional amendment bill on state police, explaining that the move was necessary to accommodate and prioritize President Bola Tinubu’s newly transmitted Executive Bill.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Green Chamber emphasized that the step was taken to ensure a unified and comprehensive constitutional framework for the proposed sub-national policing system.
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According to a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by the House Spokesman, Representative Akin Rotimi, the decision should not be misconstrued as a retreat from its advocacy for state-level policing. Instead, it represents a calculated legislative coordination to align National Assembly efforts with the executive arm’s comprehensive structure.
The House had previously made headway on the reform, passing its own version of the State Police Constitution Alteration Bill on June 11, 2026. By July 9, a 12-member Conference Committee was formed to reconcile legislative differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.
However, the subsequent transmission of the President’s Executive Bill introduced critical new administrative, structural, and implementation parameters for regional security services that required a fresh legislative approach.
The procedural shift was formalized following the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Rep. Francis Waive.
With the motion’s approval, the House rescinded its previous resolution on its self-sponsored bill and formally dissolved the joint Conference Committee.
The President’s legislative proposal, officially titled the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2026 (HB. 2797), advanced rapidly through parliamentary procedures on Tuesday.
Led by House Leader Julius Ihonvbere, the bill passed both its first and second readings during the plenary session. It has now been referred to the House Committee on Constitution Review for detailed committee-stage evaluation.
In a letter sent to the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, President Tinubu urged lawmakers to prioritize and expedite the consideration of the proposal, describing decentralized policing as a foundational element of his administration’s national security reform agenda.
The House reiterated its commitment to delivering transparent and robust constitutional reforms that directly address Nigeria’s contemporary governance and security challenges.
