The Ondo State House of Assembly on Monday passed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to establish State Police Services in the country.
With the development, Ondo became the latest state to endorse the proposed decentralised policing framework after 24 state assemblies met the constitutional threshold last week.
The bill scaled second and third readings during plenary, with all members present supporting its passage.
Moving the motion for its passage, the leader of the House, Olatunji Oshati, said lawmakers had carefully considered the implications of the proposed amendment.
According to Oshati, the establishment of state police would address the numerous security challenges confronting the country.
With the motion seconded by Allen Oluwatoyin, representing Ese-Odo, the Speaker of the Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, described the proposed establishment of state police as long overdue.
Oladiji noted that the bill would enable security agencies to respond swiftly to crime and other security concerns, adding that state policing would help reduce crime through improved intelligence gathering and proactive security measures.
After the passage, the Speaker directed the Clerk of the House, Benjamin Jayeola, to transmit the document to the National Assembly, along with the state legislature’s observations.
Oladiji lauded the lawmakers for their valuable contributions to the passage of the bill.
He added that the approval of 24 of the 36 state assemblies had met the constitutional requirement for the Sixth Alteration Bill, which provides for a dual policing system.
Ondo Assembly passes state police bill, says it’s long overdue