The Cross River State House of Assembly has passed the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, seeking to establish a constitutional framework for State Police Services in Nigeria, with 22 of the 25 lawmakers voting in favour of the proposed amendment.
The bill was passed during plenary on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, following deliberations on the need to decentralise policing, strengthen intelligence gathering, improve security responses and enhance the protection of lives and property across the country. Three members were absent from the sitting.
The passage reflects the Assembly’s support for the proposed constitutional reforms aimed at creating a legal framework for state-level policing to complement existing federal security structures and address security challenges at the grassroots.
Leading the debate, the Leader of the House and member representing Odukpani State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Francis Asuquo, highlighted the importance of bringing policing closer to the people, noting that a decentralised system could improve response times and enable security agencies to address the peculiar needs of different communities.
Asuquo maintained that a policing structure with greater proximity to local communities could enhance intelligence gathering and facilitate timely responses to security threats.
Similarly, the member representing Yala I State Constituency, Hon. Brian Odey, stressed the need for effective coordination between state and federal security agencies to ensure that the proposed State Police Services complement existing security arrangements and improve overall security operations.
Odey emphasised that clearly defined responsibilities and cooperation among security agencies would be essential to the effective implementation of the proposed framework.
The Deputy Leader of the House and member representing Abi State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Davies Eta, called for adequate safeguards, accountability and professionalism in the operation of state police, stressing that the proposed system must function within the confines of the law and respect citizens’ fundamental rights.
Eta’s position highlighted the need for a legal and institutional framework that would prevent abuse of power while ensuring that state policing contributes effectively to public safety.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, said the Assembly’s decision demonstrated its support for constitutional reforms designed to address security challenges and protect lives and property.
“By this vote, the 10th Assembly has demonstrated its support for the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, which seeks to establish a constitutional framework for State Police Services,” Ayambem said.
The Speaker further stressed that the implementation of state policing must be guided by the rule of law, accountability and democratic principles to ensure that the proposed structure operates responsibly and in the public interest.
The bill comprises 26 clauses and proposes 25 alterations through substitutions to provisions of the principal Act. Sections listed for amendment include Sections 84(4), 89(2), 121(3), 124(4), 109(2), 153(1), 157(2), 158(1) and 160.
The passage of the bill represents the Cross River State House of Assembly’s endorsement of the proposed constitutional amendments, which seek to provide the legal foundation for the establishment of State Police Services in Nigeria. The proposed alteration remains subject to the applicable constitutional amendment process.
