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Tinubu Pushes State Police, Sends Constitutional Amendment Bill to Reps
President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a bill to the House of Representatives seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide the legal framework for the establishment of state police across Nigeria.
The proposed Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, is widely seen as one of the most significant efforts to reform Nigeria’s policing system since the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999.
In a letter dated June 15, 2026, and addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, the President urged lawmakers to give the bill expedited consideration, describing it as a key component of his administration’s security reforms.
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The letter, read during Tuesday’s plenary by Speaker Abbas, stated that the bill seeks to create “a constitutional pathway for the establishment of State Police Services” to strengthen Nigeria’s response to growing security challenges.
Tinubu said the proposed legislation builds on previous work already undertaken by the House of Representatives while introducing additional safeguards to ensure the effective operation of a dual policing structure.
“This bill builds on the significant work already done in this regard by the House of Representatives and incorporates additional safeguards to ensure that the creation of a dual policing structure to address our nation’s evolving national security challenges can be achieved quickly and effectively to the benefit of all Nigerians,” the President stated.
He described the legislation as a critical part of his administration’s strategy to reorganise the country’s security architecture and appealed to lawmakers to fast-track its passage.
“The proposed legislation is a critical component of our administration’s strategy to reorganise Nigeria’s security architecture to better protect our citizens, and I am confident that the House of Representatives will act quickly to consider and pass this bill,” Tinubu wrote.
The President also expressed confidence that the National Assembly would act swiftly on the proposal, saying he looked forward to its prompt consideration.
Nigeria currently operates a single, centrally controlled policing system under the Nigeria Police Force as provided by the 1999 Constitution.
However, rising insecurity, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and other violent crimes, has intensified calls for the decentralisation of policing.
The push for state police has gained momentum in recent years as governors increasingly rely on regional and state-backed security outfits, including Amotekun in the South-West, Ebube Agu in parts of the South-East and various vigilante organisations, to complement federal security agencies.
While supporters argue that decentralised policing would improve intelligence gathering, community policing and response time, critics have consistently warned that state-controlled police could be abused by governors for political purposes.
If approved by two-thirds of both chambers of the National Assembly and ratified by at least 24 of the 36 state Houses of Assembly, the bill would amend the Constitution to establish a dual policing system, allowing both the Federal Government and state governments to operate constitutionally recognised police services.
The proposal is expected to trigger fresh debate among lawmakers and stakeholders over the structure, funding, oversight and operational safeguards for state police as the National Assembly begins consideration of the bill.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Federal Government over the continued exposure of Nigerians to kidnappers, questioning the impact of savings from fuel subsidy removal on national security.
Atiku disclosed this in a statement on Monday while reacting to the abduction of 20 travellers, including prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, in Imo State.
He described the abduction as “heartbreaking,” noting that although some of the victims had been rescued, others remained in captivity.
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Atiku urged the Federal Government, Imo State Government and security agencies to act with urgency to secure the release of all those still being held.
He also raised concern over more than 70 pupils and students abducted from Mussa and Lassa in Borno State who, according to him, have remained in captivity for months.
“These children must not be forgotten. Their families deserve clear updates, and the public deserves answers,” he said.
The former vice president questioned the government’s handling of insecurity, recalling President Bola Tinubu’s promise that savings from the removal of fuel subsidy would help fund security.
“Yet Nigerians remain exposed to kidnappers on our roads, in our communities and around our schools,” Atiku said.
He said young Nigerians were facing danger at different stages of their lives, from secondary school to university and now while travelling to NYSC camps.
“Young people face danger in secondary school, struggle with unaffordable fees at university, and are now targets on their journeys to NYSC camps. This is a generation being failed at every stage,” he said.
Atiku also criticised the award of what he described as huge pipeline security contracts to politically connected companies, while ordinary Nigerians continue to face criminals.
“The first duty of government is to protect lives,” he stated.
He called for the immediate and safe rescue of every abducted young person and the return of those still unaccounted for.
Atiku also reaffirmed his commitment to building a safer and more affordable Nigeria where young people can create, build and prosper.
“My promise to build a safer and more affordable Nigeria, where young people can create, build and prosper, remains unshakable,” he said.
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has warned members of the public against a fraudulent recruitment notice circulating on social media and other platforms, purportedly advertising job vacancies with the former Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
The warning was contained in a public notice signed by the management of the Nigeria Revenue Service on Monday.
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According to the Service, the fake notice, titled “Federal Inland Revenue Service – FIRS Job Vacancy – Replacement,” claims to be recruiting graduates for a 2026/2027 job replacement exercise and directs interested applicants to submit their curriculum vitae and applications to [email protected].
The NRS stated categorically that the recruitment notice did not originate from the Service and urged Nigerians to disregard it.
The Service also reminded the public that the Federal Inland Revenue Service has been succeeded by the Nigeria Revenue Service, warning that any purported recruitment advertisement issued in the name of FIRS should be treated with caution and independently verified.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NRS has not authorised or commenced the recruitment exercise referenced in the notice and has not appointed or authorised any individual, agent, consultant or third party to conduct any recruitment exercise on its behalf,” the Service stated.
The fake advertisement had claimed that the purported recruitment was aimed at addressing unemployment and invited Nigerians with qualifications including ND, NCE, first degree and HND to apply.
It also listed requirements such as a NYSC discharge certificate or exemption letter for degree and HND holders, a valid NIN, means of identification, birth certificate or declaration of age, passport photograph, functional phone number and email address.
The fraudulent notice further gave October 24, 2026 as the application deadline and directed applicants to submit their applications through the email address provided.
However, the NRS warned Nigerians not to respond to the advertisement or provide personal and financial information.
The Service specifically advised members of the public not to make payments, disclose sensitive personal or financial information, or submit certificates, identification documents or other documentation in response to the purported recruitment exercise.
The NRS said any genuine recruitment exercise by the Service would be formally announced through its official website and authorised communication channels.
It urged Nigerians to verify recruitment-related information through those channels before taking any action and encouraged members of the public to report suspicious recruitment communications to the appropriate authorities.
Chuks Nwanne, general manager of The Guardian’s Abuja operations and former Saturday editor of the newspaper, has passed on.
Eniola Daniel, a senior multimedia reporter at The Guardian, announced Nwanne’s death in an X post on Saturday.
It was gathered that Nwanne died on Saturday after a protracted illness.
Daniel described Nwanne as a “prolific entertainment writer” and his teacher, saying he would be deeply missed.
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A native of Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nwanne joined The Guardian in 2008 as an entertainment reporter.
He later became an editorial assistant at The Guardian Life Magazine, the newspaper’s weekly lifestyle publication.
Nwanne also served as assistant editor, entertainment and lifestyle, while overseeing the youth, travel and tourism sections of The Guardian on Saturday.
He held a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, and a master’s degree in communication studies from Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos.
He attended several training programmes and conferences in Nigeria and abroad.
Beyond journalism, Nwanne was the founder and creative director of the Ogbunike Cave Carnival, an annual three-day cultural festival established to promote the Ogbunike Cave, a major tourist attraction in Nigeria.
He was married and had three children.
Daniel expressed condolences to Nwanne’s family, describing his death as a loss to Ogbunike, Anambra, the music and entertainment industry, and journalism.
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