The Kano State House of Assembly has passed a bill seeking amendments to the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for the establishment of state police in Nigeria, marking another legislative step in the growing national debate over decentralised policing.
The Assembly also approved a downward review of the Kano State Supplementary Appropriation and Amendment Bill, 2026, reducing the proposed expenditure from approximately ₦1.478 trillion to ₦1.211 trillion, a cut of about ₦266.61 billion.
Both bills were passed during Tuesday’s plenary session, presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Isma’il Falgore, following deliberations by the Committee of the Whole and approval at the third reading.
During consideration of the constitutional amendment proposal, lawmakers examined all 26 clauses before approving the bill.
The proposed amendment seeks to establish a legal framework that would enable state governments to create and operate their own police services. Supporters of state policing argue that decentralising law enforcement could improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community-based security and enable faster responses to threats that require local knowledge.
The proposal comes amid continuing concerns over insecurity across Nigeria, including kidnapping, armed attacks, banditry and other violent crimes. The debate over state police has intensified as governments and security stakeholders explore reforms to improve the country’s security architecture.
However, the passage of the bill by the Kano State Assembly does not, by itself, establish a state police service. Constitutional amendment proposals must pass through the constitutionally prescribed process, including the required approvals by the National Assembly and at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly, before being presented to the President for assent.
The Kano Assembly’s decision therefore represents a state-level legislative step towards the proposed constitutional change.
Meanwhile, lawmakers approved a substantial reduction in the state’s proposed supplementary expenditure for 2026.
The supplementary budget submitted by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf initially stood at ₦1,477,829,666,130.71. Following legislative scrutiny, the Assembly reduced the figure to approximately ₦1.211 trillion, representing a reduction of about ₦266.61 billion.
The review followed the lawmakers’ examination of the state’s supplementary spending requirements and proposed amendments to the existing 2026 appropriation framework.
The scale of the reduction raises questions about which proposed expenditures were adjusted and how the revised allocation will affect government projects, public services and other spending priorities. However, the available report did not provide a detailed breakdown of the affected budget lines or explain the specific reasons for each reduction.
The revised budget will be expected to guide the state’s supplementary spending framework in accordance with the provisions approved by the legislature.
In a related development, the Assembly had earlier confirmed six commissioner nominees submitted by Governor Yusuf for appointment to the state executive council.
The nominees are Air Commodore Salisu Yusha’u (rtd.), Hon. Ibrahim Namadi, Professor Sani Lawan, Hon. Muktar Yakasai, Dr Aminu Tsanyawa and Hon. Idris Mustapha.
The latest legislative decisions place security-sector reform and public expenditure management among the major issues addressed by the Kano Assembly during its current proceedings.
While the proposed state police framework remains subject to further constitutional procedures, the budget reduction underscores the legislature’s role in reviewing executive spending proposals and determining the financial framework within which the state government operates.
