Gombe Assembly approves state police

The Gombe State House of Assembly has endorsed proposed constitutional amendments to provide a framework for establishing state police services in Nigeria.

According to a report of Thursday’s proceedings, lawmakers adopted recommendations submitted by a seven-member ad hoc committee on constitutional review, bringing the reported number of state legislatures supporting state police to 25. The endorsement followed an earlier statement by the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Aliyu Baba Manu, that the bill had not been formally presented to lawmakers.

The proposed constitutional alteration, containing 26 clauses, was reportedly transmitted by the National Assembly on October 6, 2026, for consideration under Section 9(2) of the Constitution. It seeks to allow state police services to operate alongside the federally controlled Nigeria Police Force.

The Assembly appointed a seven-member committee, chaired by Deputy Speaker Sadam Bello Sale, to examine the proposals and recommend a position to the House. Presenting the report, Sale said the committee had consulted relevant stakeholders. He added that its recommendations received the support of a two-thirds majority of lawmakers, citing Order 17, Rule 3 of the Assembly’s Standing Orders, 2020.

Lawmakers subsequently considered the recommendations at the Committee of the Whole and adopted the report, including provisions relating to state police. Other committee members were Musa Buaba, Shuaibu Adamu Haruna, Golkos Gaius Gaji, Abdullahi Abubakar, Muhammad Tahir and Adamu Sale Pata. Hauwa Abdullahi and Babadidi J. Mele served as secretaries.

Speaker Abubakar Muhammad Luggerewo said members unanimously supported the proposed framework and expressed confidence that state police would improve security. He commended lawmakers for their commitment to the constitutional review process and the discharge of their legislative duties.