04/07/2026
INITIATIVE FOR INTEGRITY AWARD IN AFRICA
ABUJA
04/07/2026
The Leadership,
National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS),
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC),
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
JOINT MEMORANDUM: COMPELLING THE PASSAGE OF THE STATE POLICE BILL BEFORE DECEMBER 2026
I am writing to you as the collective vanguard of the Nigerian populace—our students, workforce, and civic guardians. Our nation stands at a critical juncture where pervasive insecurity, from banditry to kidnapping, threatens the fundamental right to life and property. While the National Assembly has made legislative progress, the actualization of a decentralized security architecture depends on the swift ratification of the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill. As organized labor, the student movement, and civil society, you possess the unique socio-political leverage required to compel our federal and state lawmakers to complete this vital constitutional process without further bureaucratic delay.
The centralized structure of the current Nigeria Police Force has proven structurally overwhelmed and ill-equipped to handle localized security challenges across our sprawling federation. Sectoral analyses indicate that establishing state-managed police formations will address the current insecurity in Nigeria by at least 60%. Localized policing guarantees that officers understand the topography, cultural nuances, and language of the communities they protect, fostering proactive intelligence gathering and immediate response times.
While the National Assembly has advanced the bill, the true test of political will lies in its urgent transmission to and ratification by the 36 State Houses of Assembly. History shows that constitutional amendments in Nigeria frequently stall at the state level due to political inertia and executive indifference. We cannot afford to let this vital security reform suffer a similar fate of indefinite delays. We must collectively demand that both the National Assembly and all 36 State Houses of Assembly prioritize, vote upon, and pass this enabling legislation into law before the December 2026 deadline.
To achieve this, NANS, the NLC, and CSOs must form an unbreakable coalition to deploy strategic, peaceful advocacy and civic pressure across the country. Our message to the political class must be singular, clear, and uncompromising: any legislative delays on the State Police Bill past December 2026 will be viewed as a direct disregard for the lives and safety of the Nigerian people.
Now is the time to translate our shared anxieties into definitive civic action and ensure our lawmakers fulfill their primary constitutional responsibility—the security and welfare of citizens. By compelling the passage of this bill within the year, we will pave the way for a safer, more resilient Nigeria where students can learn without fear, workers can commute without peril, and our communities can finally thrive in peace.
Yours in Service to Humanity,
President,
Initiative for Integrity Award in Africa
[email protected]
NGO Integrity Rankings - Initiative for Integrity Award in Africa. Promoting transparency and good governance across Nigeria and Africa.
