The Rivers State House of Assembly has joined the Osun and Edo State Houses of Assembly in supporting the proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police services in Nigeria.
The Rivers lawmakers unanimously endorsed the Constitution, Sixth Alteration, Bill 2026 during plenary on Monday, with all 25 members present voting in favour of the proposal.
The bill, transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly by the National Assembly, seeks to provide a constitutional framework for the establishment of state police services across the country.
The Speaker of the Rivers Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, said the lawmakers had consulted their constituents before voting on the proposal. He said the bill would create a policing system at the subnational level to complement the existing federal police structure.
Amaewhule said the proposed amendment would also enable the National Assembly to prescribe national minimum standards for policing while providing constitutional safeguards for state police operations.
Osun became the first state to approve the proposal on September 22, while Edo lawmakers followed on September 23. Both assemblies approved the amendment unanimously.
Under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, constitutional amendments require approval by at least two thirds of the state Houses of Assembly before the process can proceed to the President.
The Rivers Assembly said it would communicate its resolution to the Clerk of the National Assembly.
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