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Money Swap : Pressure on FG, CBN Governor Emefiele over naira scarcity, Supreme Court judgment
….Anger in Ekiti, Osun, others over rejection of old notes
.,….Radio presenter slumps, dies while trekking to work
THE cash scarcity caused by the naira redesign claimed another life yesterday in Ibadan as pressure mounts on the Federal Government and the Central Bank (CBN) to ease the suffering of the people.
The Bayelsa State Government is suing for calm in the state following Friday’s protest by residents of Akenfa community in Yenagoa Local Government Area to call government’s attention to the tough life they have been facing over the naira scarcity.
They said they had had enough of the rejection of the old naira notes by traders one week after the Supreme Court extended their validity to December 31, 2023.
The placard carrying protesters said life had come to a standstill as they could neither sell nor buy while hunger continued to bite them and their children.
Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji yesterday joined the list of governors threatening to arrest and prosecute traders and service providers who reject the old N500 and N1000 denominations.
But the threats are having little or no effect as traders continue to reject the old notes.
They insist that President Muhammadu Buhari and the CBN must speak out on the judgment of the apex court to guide Nigerians appropriately on the old naira notes.
Baba Bintin L’aye, a presenter with Ibadan-based private radio station, Fresh FM, slumped to death yesterday while taking a walk to the radio station to present his programme.
He had reportedly left home armed with his ATM card in the hope of getting some cash from a POS outlet to pay for his transport fare.
He apparently failed to get the cash hence he resorted to trekking from his Amuloko residence to Challenge area of Ibadan, the location of the radio station, only to collapse on the way.
Baba Bintin L’aye is the latest known casualty of the naira scarcity which has made life unbearable for millions of Nigerians.
Before him was a Kaduna pregnant woman who died at the point of delivery because her husband was unable to pay the required hospital deposit on account of the cash squeeze.
An employee of the Lagos State University (LASU), Johnson Adesola, had also slumped to death last month while on a queue to withdraw cash at a bank on the institution’s main campus at Ojo, Lagos.
At least three other persons were killed also last month during violent protests in Edo State over the naira scarcity.
The federal government and the CBN have continued to keep mum over the Supreme Court judgment, prompting the Kaduna, Kogi, Zamfara, Ondo, Ekiti, Katsina, Ogun, Cross River, Lagos and Sokoto state governments to consider slamming contempt charges against the Attorney Genral of the Federation and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami (SAN) and the apex bank for non-implementation of the court order.
The states on Friday served the Attorney-General of the Federation the enrolled order of the Supreme Court on the extension of the validity of the old N200, N500 and N1,000 to December 31, 2023.
By the service, the order became automatically applicable to all agencies of the Federal Government, including the CBN.
Malami and CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele risk being committed for contempt of the court if by Monday they fail to comply with the order of the apex court.
The 10 states have activated the machinery to file contempt charges against Malami and Emefiele if they defy the order of the Supreme Court.
The delay in releasing the Certified True Copy (CTC) seems to have encouraged the banks to adopt different attitudes to the judgment of the apex court.
Some of the banks have been giving the old notes to customers but insist that customers go through the strenuous process stipulated by the CBN for the old notes to be banked.
Our correspondence gathered that the enrolled order, dated March 3rd, 2023, was served on AGF Malami yesterday.
A counsel in the matter said: “We have finally served the Attorney-General of the Federation the enrolled order of the Supreme Court.
“What we did on Friday was to fulfill all righteousness by serving the enrolled order on the AGF.
“The Federal Government has been evasive by claiming that it had not received the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment, which we have obtained and made available to it.
“The burden is on Malami to act as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation to comply with the order.
“There is no hiding place for the government; there is no excuse again. While we are waiting for the government’s decision, the law provides us backing for Plan B.”
The enrolled order of the Supreme Court, which was sighted by The Nation, reads as follows: “It is ordered that this suit has merit. That the demonetization directive/policy by the President of the Federation to wit: withdrawal of the old 200, 500, and 1000 naira notes is not consistent with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(as amended) which makes provision for the Executive power of the President of the Federation and the extant laws on the subject matter.
“That the three months’ notice given for the implementation and completion of the said demonetization policy by which time the old N1,000, N500 and N200 naira notes shall cease to be legal tender does not satisfy the condition set out in Section 20(3) of the CBN Act 2007.
“That the President cannot unilaterally give a directive to embark on the demonetization policy pursuant to Section 20(3) of the CBN Act 2007 in view of Nigeria’s Fiscal Federalism, the economic interest of the Constituents of the Federation and without consultation with, and advice from the plaintiff, individually, and in their capacity as members of the National Council of States and National Economic Council and that the directive cannot be given without consultation with, and advice from the cabinet, the National Security Council and other stakeholders.
“That in issuing the directive for demonetization policy pursuant to Section 20(3) of the CBN Act, 2007 on behalf of the Federation of Nigeria, the President is under an obligation to ensure that adequate structures are put in place for the plaintiffs and Nigerian citizens prior to the implementation of the said directive.
“That the demonetization directive/policy by the President of the Federation to wit: withdrawal of the old N200, N500 and N1, 000 notes unlawfully impede the exercise of the Executive Powers of the plaintiffs’ states and other obligations to facilitate and protect the welfare of the citizens of the said states pursuant to Section 5(2) and other provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(as amended) as well as other extant laws.
“That the directive given by the President pursuant to Section 20(3) of the CBN Act 2007 limiting the amount that can be withdrawn and the charges therein without an enabling law is unconstitutional and not binding on the plaintiffs.
“That the directive of the President of the President of the Federation exercised is illegal to the extent that it restricts, without an enabling law, the rights of the plaintiffs to freely use their money in various bank accounts.
“That the old version of N200, N500 and N1,000 notes shall continue to be legal tender alongside with the new or redesigned version until 31st December, 2023.
“That the reception of old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes and the swapping of same with new Naira notes shall continue till 31st December, 2023.
“That all the consolidated suits listed in pp. 12-13 of the judgment shall abide this judgment.”
Bayelsa govt calls for calm
Following the Friday protest in Yenagoa and the continuing anger of the people over FG’s silence on the Supreme Court’s judgment, the Bayelsa State Government yesterday pleaded with residents of the state to be calm and shun acts that could jeopardise the peace of the state.
Information, Orientation and Strategy Commissioner Ayibaina Duba said in a statement that while the state government was not in any way against the naira redesign policy of the CBN or the federal government, it was “not comfortable with the method of its implementation that has resulted in further hardship on people of the state and, indeed, the country.”
It urged business operators in the state, particularly banks, traders and keke (tricycle) to “take into consideration the Supreme Court ruling in order to reduce the pains of people of the state.”
It also asked the CBN to “take immediate steps to ease the burden of doing business in the state by making implementation of the policy less cumbersome.”
Ekiti govt to arrest, prosecute traders rejecting old naira notes, says Oyebanji
Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji said government would arrest and prosecute traders and service providers who reject the old N500 and N1000 denominations.
His Special Adviser on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, in a statement in Ado Ekiti particularly appealed to traders and business owners in the state to stop creating hardship for residents.
The governor explained that the old N500 and N1000 denominations remained legal tender till the end of this year by virtue of the ruling of the Supreme Court.
Oyebanji said that his office had been inundated with the cries of the people due to the hardship being faced as a result of the low circulation of the redesigned naira notes.
Oyebanji said that the refusal of many business owners in the state to accept the old naira notes as means of transaction was unlawful.
He said: “This is an appeal to all residents of Ekiti to abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court, which has provided a reprieve for the people by extending the validity date of the old naira notes till December 31.
“As honourable people, what is expected of us is to abide by the ruling of the apex court and continue to accept the old naira notes as means of transactions and not to inflict further hardship on one another by rejecting it.
“Government will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute business owners found rejecting the old naira notes,” the statement quoted Oyebanji as saying.
He pledged that his administration would continue to explore avenues to make life more meaningful for the people, as it continues to build a more prosperous state.
The governor, therefore, appealed to the market women and men, artisans, transporters, filling station attendants, supermarket owners and school proprietors as well as service providers to remain law abiding and accept the old naira notes.
He also urged the commercial banks and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make the old and new currencies available in their branches and at their Automated Teller Machines (ATM) points to ease the stress residents go through to get money for their daily and commercial needs.
Osun residents decry inability to spend old N500, N1000 notes
Residents of Osogbo in Osun have decried their inability to spend the old N500 and N1,000 denominations in spite of the Supreme Court’s pronouncement that they remain legal tender until December 31.
Some of them told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that were happy with the Supreme Court’s judgment, but were disappointed when traders refused to accept the money.
Mr Adejare Agunloye, a civil servant, said the N10,000 old notes he got from the ATM had become useless as traders refused to accept them from him .
“The situation is really messed up,” he said.
“Imagine the situation where the Supreme Court would give a judgment and people still have to wait for the President to give such court order power of authenticity.
“I have been cash strapped since the new currency issue started and imagine my joy (like many others) when the judgment that banks should circulate the old N500 and N1,000 notes was given.
“Now see, after rushing to withdraw the old money from the bank, there is no where to spend it as traders continue to reject it because the President and CBN governor have not said it should be spent.
“At the moment, I have money I cannot spend, and the worst part is, banks are not collecting the old notes from customers who want to deposit them. Instead, they are asking us to take the money directly to the CBN office for deposit.
“I don’t understand why things in Nigeria are always made difficult by the authorities.”
Another resident, Mrs Ayoade Usman, said she withdrew N5,000 old notes from the ATM with the intention of buying food items from the market.
Usman said she almost got into a fight with some traders when they refused to collect the money from her, saying they don’t accept the old notes.
“I was angry after I wanted to buy pepper and meat and other food items, and these people said they are not collecting the old notes.
“This is the money that the Supreme Court said remains a legal tender till December and this is the same money these traders are refusing to collect.
“So, what is the essence of collecting the old Naira notes from the banks if business operators and traders would not collect them?
“I hope the CBN governor or Mr President would speak or issue an official statement to address this matter, because the banks are still paying out the old notes to customers while business owners are rejecting them,” she said.
Mr Ajayi Ogunsola, a resident and a commercial transport operator, said he was collecting the old notes from passengers, but stopped when he discovered filling stations and traders were not collecting them from him.
“I was collecting the old N500 and N1,000 when the court said we should continue to spend them. But to my surprise, when I wanted to buy fuel, the fuel attendant said she was not collecting the old notes.
“I thought she was joking and told her the Supreme Court has directed that the old notes should remain a legal tender till December 31, but she insisted that the management had directed her and her colleagues not to collect the old notes.
“At this point, I did not know what to do with the old notes with me because I heard banks are also not collecting them, and people are saying I have to take it to the CBN office.” he said.
May God’s judgement be on you, Fani-Kayode curses CBN managers
Lamenting the naira scarcity situation across the country despite recent orders by the Supreme Court, former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode took to his Twitter page on Saturday to rain curses on the people at the helm in Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for causing the people untold hardship.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain lamented that some people at the CBN believe they are greater than the court but should remember they are not greater than God.
“May God’s judgement and curse be upon those at Central Bank who believe that despite the ruling of the courts they are above the law & are greater than their creator. Your money, power, properties & wealth are for but a fleeting moment in the sands of time & echoes of eternity,” he wrote.
President Bola Tinubu has blamed his political opponents for hunger and poverty in Nigeria, saying his administration is working to address the challenges.
Tinubu spoke on Saturday at the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign flag-off rally at Ranchers Bees Stadium in Kaduna State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“I have an argument. I hear my opponent talking about hunger, poverty. Who created it? They did! They created the hunger, they created the poverty. We are trying to eradicate it,” the President said.
He also defended his administration’s record on salary payments and praised governors for their performance.
Nigeria’s debt interest payments exceed revenue by ₦1.5 trillion
“We pay salaries regularly. Our governors are working. I am proud of them. They are developing,” he said.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has said the North should support President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027.
He insisted that any Northerner seeking the presidency in 2027 would be working against the region’s interests.
Akume said the North should allow Tinubu to complete his political project before considering another presidential bid in 2031.
The SGF stated this on Saturday while addressing Benue State indigenes resident in Kaduna ahead of the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign in the state capital.
He urged Northerners to remain united and resist political ambitions capable of dividing the region ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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“The North must remain united and focus on its collective interest rather than allow individual ambitions to divide us,” Akume said.
The former Benue State governor argued that the region needed to consider its long-term political interests and the implications of the 2027 presidential election for its future.
He said, “President Bola Tinubu should be allowed to complete his political project before the North considers its own presidential ambition in 2031.”
Akume also cautioned against attempts to divide Northerners along political, religious and personal lines, stressing that unity remained essential to the region’s political relevance.
“We must not allow political, religious or personal differences to undermine our common interests. The strength of the North lies in our ability to work together,” he said.
The SGF further called for peaceful coexistence and cooperation among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic and religious communities, saying national development depended on unity.
He urged the people to examine political developments carefully and avoid being misled by individuals whose ambitions might conflict with the broader interests of the region.
The meeting brought together Benue indigenes living in Kaduna and other political stakeholders to discuss issues affecting their community, political representation and engagement with leaders at the national level.
The APC presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna is expected to bring together party leaders, supporters and political stakeholders from across the country.
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State Police: Five More State Assemblies Pass Bill as 90% of States Are Ready for Transmission to National Assembly on October 29 – Gbajabiamila
The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill on Tuesday said it had submitted the draft National Policing Bill, 2026, and 29 consequential amendment bills to the Ministry of Justice for legislative drafting review and validation.
This comes as Ogun, Delta, Plateau, Kwara and Adamawa state assemblies approved the police bill alongside Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Zamfara, which had earlier endorsed the constitutional amendments required to institute state policing.
The proposed Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, was transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026 by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, for consideration and approval.
The Sixth Alteration Bill amends section 214 of the Constitution to replace the single Nigeria Police Force with a Federal Police Service and State Police Services as part of efforts to address the country’s security challenges.
In a statement signed Tuesday by the Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Working Group, Femi Gbajabiamila, the group said it had completed the drafting stage of its assignment.
The PWG explained that the draft bill was submitted to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on Monday.
It said, “The submission was made on October 19, 2026, to the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, in line with the Working Group’s work plan.
“The ministry’s review will ensure that the bills conform to legislative drafting standards and conventions, and that they do not conflict with existing laws.
“The Ministry of Justice is expected to return the validated draft bills to the Working Group on or before Friday, 30th October 2026. The Working Group will then give the validated bills final consideration before presenting them to Mr President, thereby concluding its mandate.”
Gbajabiamila said the proposed National Policing Bill seeks to establish the constitutional and legislative framework for a dual policing structure, made up of a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.
He added that the Working Group remained committed to “a rigorous and transparent process” that would deliver a comprehensive legislative proposal for the President’s consideration and subsequent transmission to the National Assembly.
According to the former legislator, the work was proceeding alongside the ongoing consideration of the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 by the State Houses of Assembly, which “must be completed before the Bill is transmitted to the National Assembly”.
On October 15, Gbajabiamila told State House correspondents that the policing bill was “90 per cent ready” and would be transmitted to the National Assembly on October 29.
The Senate passed the bill on June 24, after which it was also passed by the House of Representatives.
Afterwards, the National Assembly sent it to the 36 State Houses of Assembly on September 16, where it must be approved by at least 24 state assemblies.
Tinubu inaugurated the seven-member Presidential Working Group on July 7, with its steering committee starting work on August 3.
He mandated it to produce a “technically robust, implementation-ready draft National Policing Bill.’’
When asked how long the review by the justice ministry would take, Kamarudeen Ogundele, the Special Assistant, Media, to the AGF, said, “Is there any rule that says that it must be done within one week, two months, three months or four months? When did we start having periods within which a case should be treated and sent for approval?
‘’I am not in the position to confirm that now. This thing has a procedure; it has a process, and due process must be followed. So, now saying that maybe it has to be done within one week or two weeks or whatever, where no law says it must be done within that period or whatever, is unnecessary,” he added.
The Senate also declined to comment on the Executive’s proposed timeline, saying it would wait until it formally receives the bills before taking a position.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, disclosed this.
“Well, we cannot pass comment on what the Executive said until we receive correspondence from them,” he said.
Adaramodu, however, described the proposed legislation as a matter of public interest that lawmakers were determined to conclude expeditiously.
The Senate spokesman dismissed concerns over delays by state assemblies in approving the constitutional amendment, despite the expiration of the 30-day deadline set for them to submit their inputs.
He explained that the deadline was intended for state legislatures to communicate their positions, adding that the Senate would consider their responses alongside the executive’s proposals.
“All those things (state approvals) will be brought to us, and we will put them under consideration because we are still going to hold a conference to address it.
“Again, you need to understand that the 30-day deadline is not for us. It is for the states to send in their inputs. And they have been doing that,” he said.
Adaramodu expressed confidence that all states would have submitted their responses by the time the executive formally transmitted its proposals. He maintained that the process would not undermine the Senate’s commitment to passing the legislation before the end of the year.
Ogun State House of Assembly passed a resolution supporting the consideration of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, on the establishment of State Police Services.
The assembly, during its sitting on Tuesday, passed the resolution, titled: ‘H.R. No. 194/OG/2025- Consideration of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ( 1999) (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 (Establishment of State Police Services).’
The passage of the resolution followed the presentation of the report of the Ad-hoc Committee on Constitutional Review chaired by a former Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, who presented the committee’s report on 26 clauses and sectional amendments to the Constitution.
Oluomo took the proposed amendments one after the other, with members voting in favour of all the clauses and sections contained in the amendments.
The proposed amendments covered different aspects of the bill, including the substitution, insertion and alteration of specific constitutional provisions.
The lawmaker later moved the motion for the adoption of the committee’s report, seconded by Adegoke Adeyanju and supported by all the members through a voice vote.
The House Leader, Yusuf Sherif, subsequently moved that the report be adopted as a resolution of the House, seconded by the Chief Whip, Omolola Bakare, and was unanimously supported by all the lawmakers through a voice vote.
In his remarks, the Speaker, Daisi Elemide, said, “The Assembly joined other state Houses of Assembly across the country in supporting the establishment of State Police, and this decision is historic.
“The passage of the resolution reflected the position of the lawmakers and the people of the State in supporting the establishment of State Police to strengthen security, through improved security measures in protecting the lives and property of the citizenry, thereby promoting the social well-being and economic development of the state”
Elemide later directed that a clean copy of the resolution be transmitted to the National Assembly to communicate the state’s support for the establishment of State Police Services.
Similarly, members of the Delta State House of Assembly unanimously approved the 6th Alteration Bill of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to provide for the establishment of State Police Services.
All 23 members present at plenary on Tuesday, through head count, voted in favour of the bill.
The letter, which was read on the floor by the Speaker, Emomotimi Guwor, outlined the objective of the bill, which seeks to provide a constitutional framework for the establishment of State Police Services while preserving the Nigeria Police Force as the Federal Police Service.
Leading the debate on the merits of the bill, the Majority Leader, Emeka Nwaobi, said, “The proposed amendment aims to guarantee security of lives and property through a dual policing system, allowing states to establish and fund their own police services to address rising cases of insecurity, particularly at the local level.”
Other lawmakers, who spoke in favour of the bill, affirmed their support, noting that it would strengthen local intelligence gathering, improve response to security challenges, create employment opportunities and help tackle insecurity at the grassroots.
Guwor commended the members for their support and patriotism, assuring that “the establishment of state police would go a long way in strengthening grassroots policing and creating a safer environment for investment and development to thrive in Delta State in line with the M.O.R.E Agenda of the Oborevwori administration.”
Guwor, who is also the Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, stated, “Distinguished colleagues, I commend you for approving the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, in line with section 9 sub-section (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered).
“This is a significant step towards the establishment of State Police in Nigeria. It brings us closer to a policing system that is more responsive to our communities, improves intelligence gathering and strengthens our capacity to tackle security challenges.
“For Delta State, this reform holds great promise for protecting lives and property, sustaining peace and creating a safer environment for investment and development in line with the M.O.R.E Agenda of our amiable Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori.
“I congratulate this Honourable House on this important resolution. May our collective efforts continue to advance peace, security and good governance in Delta State and Nigeria in general.”
The speaker, thereafter, directed the Clerk of the House, Otto Aghoghophia, to communicate the resolution of the Delta State House of Assembly to the National Assembly, accordingly.
Earlier at the plenary, the House observed a one-minute silence in honour of former Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, who passed away on Monday.
The Adamawa State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed 24 out of 26 clauses of the state Police Bill, 2026, rejecting two clauses.
At an emergency sitting on Tuesday, the lawmakers, who had been on recess in China, spent over two hours reading each section of the Alteration Bill for members to approve or disapprove.
Speaker Bathiya Wesley, who presided over the session, directed the Clerk of the House to produce a clean copy of the approved 24 clauses and transmit them to the National Assembly.
Speaking to journalists after the sitting, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Musa Kallam, representing Mayo-Belwa State Constituency, pointed out that state policing would help combat criminal activities in the country.
On the two rejected clauses, he disclosed that they were not properly defined and that the majority of the members were not clear on those clauses.
“Some of my colleagues were not clear on those clauses, and they decided to reject them. Since they were in the majority, there is nothing we can do.”
On the concern that governors could deploy state police against their political opponents, he clarified that the Constitutional alteration had stipulated the limit of governors’ powers in controlling state police.
“Let us not jump to the conclusion that state governors will take over when the state police take off, and if there is anything that the National Assembly feels should be amended to strengthen the state police, the Constitution will still be amended. The idea of state police is fantastic and must be sustained,” he noted.
Like Delta and Ogun, the Kwara State House of Assembly also approved the proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal framework for the establishment of state police in the country.
The approval was given during Tuesday’s plenary in Ilorin after the speaker, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, read a letter from the Clerk of the National Assembly on the proposed constitutional alteration.
The development was disclosed in a statement made available toour correspondence by the Chief Press Secretary to the speaker, Abdulkadir Yusuf.
Leading the debate on the amendment, the House Leader, Mogaji Abdulkadri, enumerated the various advantages the proposed amendment would have on the country’s policing system.
Other lawmakers who spoke on the constitutional amendment supported the proposal, saying “it would bring policing closer to the people and strengthen security across the country.”
The lawmakers affirmed that the alteration would “bring police closer to the people, thereby improving the security of lives and property of people across the country.”
Following the debate, the speaker directed the Clerk of the House, Ahmed Olayiwola, to communicate the Assembly’s approval to the National Assembly for further action.
The Plateau State House of Assembly equally endorsed the Constitution amendment bill seeking the creation of a state police, describing the proposal as timely and necessary to address the country’s security challenges.
The endorsement followed the adoption of the report of the Ad-hoc Committee constituted to scrutinise the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, which was considered at plenary on Monday.
In a statement signed by the media aide to the speaker, Philip Eplong, and made available to The PUNCH on Tuesday, he said the decision was taken during Monday’s plenary session presided over by Speaker Naanlong Daniel.
Eplong’s statement read, “Presenting the committee’s report, its chairman and member representing Qua’an-Pan South Constituency, Prof. Theodore Maiyaki, said the proposed constitutional alteration was necessary in view of prevailing security challenges, the shortage of manpower in the Nigeria Police Force and the need to strengthen local policing arrangements.’’
He explained that the proposal sought to establish a constitutional framework for Federal and State Police Services, with appropriate safeguards for human rights, operational standards, accountability and coordination. The committee observed that the proposed amendment was timely, considering the need to strengthen security and improve responses to threats within communities.
The committee further noted that security remained critical to the socioeconomic development of Plateau State and other parts of the country.
It, therefore, recommended that the House supported the proposed constitutional alteration in line with the relevant legislative requirements.
Following deliberations, the House adopted the committee’s recommendations and voted in support of the proposed constitutional amendment.
The speaker commended the committee for its work and appreciated members for their patience, commitment and sacrifice in considering the important legislative matter.
The Kebbi State House of Assembly has received a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide for the establishment of state police services across the country.
The bill was transmitted to the Assembly by the National Assembly for consideration and approval as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process.
The Majority Leader of the Kebbi Assembly, Faruku Aliyu Nassarawa Jega, disclosed this during Tuesday’s plenary session while reading a letter from the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana.
The letter, dated September 16, 2026, and addressed to the Speaker of the Kebbi Assembly, Salihu Maikasuwa Dangoje, stated that the bill was passed by the Senate on June 24, 2026, and the House of Representatives on July 23, 2026.
According to the letter, the proposed legislation seeks to establish a constitutional framework for state police services while retaining the Nigeria Police Force as the federal police service.
The National Assembly urged the Kebbi Assembly to give the bill expeditious consideration and communicate its decision promptly to facilitate the completion of the constitutional amendment process.
“The leadership of the National Assembly respectfully requests that the Kebbi State House of Assembly accord the Bill expeditious consideration and communicate its resolution to the National Assembly at the earliest opportunity,” the letter stated.
It added that the request was made pursuant to Section 9(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, following directives from the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Internal Security for further deliberation ahead of the Assembly’s decision.
Under the constitutional amendment procedure, a proposed alteration must be approved by at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly before it can be presented to the President for assent.
The proposed establishment of state police has remained a major issue in Nigeria’s security debate, with proponents arguing that decentralising policing would improve responses to local security threats and strengthen community-based security efforts.
The proposal is particularly significant for states such as Kebbi, which have faced security challenges, including banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities.
Supporters believe state police officers would be better positioned to gather intelligence, understand local security concerns and respond more quickly to emerging threats because of their proximity to the communities they serve.
However, the proposal has also raised concerns about potential political interference, abuse of power and the need for adequate safeguards to guarantee the independence, accountability and professionalism of state police services.
The Kebbi Assembly is expected to deliberate on the bill through its legislative processes before communicating its position to the National Assembly.
Murtala Adamu Diri, Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, announced the development in a statement issued on Tuesday.
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