Nigeria has moved closer to establishing state police services after about 28 State Houses of Assembly approved the proposed constitutional amendment, exceeding the minimum requirement of 24 states. The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, announced the development in a statement, saying his office had received and verified the resolutions and accompanying Votes and Proceedings from the 28 assemblies. Under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, any proposed alteration to the Constitution must receive approval from at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly. The proposed amendment, contained in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, seeks to establish a policing structure comprising Federal Police Services and State Police Services. It would allow individual states to establish their own police services, with governors empowered to appoint commissioners of police, subject to recommendations by the appropriate police service commission and confirmation by their respective State Houses of Assembly. The amendment followed its passage by both chambers of the National Assembly, with the Senate approving it on 24 June and the House of Representatives passing it on 23 July. The bill was transmitted to the 36 state assemblies on 16 September for consideration. Although the National Assembly initially gave the assemblies 30 days to communicate their decisions, the Clerk clarified that the period, which expired on 15 October, was an administrative timeframe rather than a constitutional deadline. With the required approvals secured, the National Assembly has begun the administrative process of transmitting the bill to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
The House on Wednesday advanced a bill seeking to impose financial penalties, suspend operating licences and shut down healthcare facilities that refuse or delay emergency medical treatment. The proposed amendment to the National Health Act, 2014, sponsored by the House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi (APC, Ekiti), also seeks to introduce criminal sanctions against health workers who deliberately refuse to attend to emergency patients or abandon them. The bill passed second reading during plenary and was subsequently referred to the House Committee on Health Services for further legislative action. Under the proposed legislation, hospitals would be required to commence triage within 15 minutes of a patient's arrival and begin basic stabilisation within 30 minutes. Life-saving interventions would have to begin immediately once a life-threatening condition is identified, while patients requiring admission must be assigned available beds within two hours. Where a facility lacks an available bed, it would be required to stabilise the patient and initiate a referral within the stipulated period. The proposal also sets timelines for referrals, requiring hospitals to arrange transportation within 30 minutes of a referral decision and complete the transfer within three hours, except where circumstances beyond their control prevent compliance. During the debate, Chinedu Ogah (APC, Ebonyi) supported the proposal but called for emergency patients to be covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme to prevent hospitals from demanding deposits before treatment.
The House also passed for second reading the Federal Capital Territory Advance Rent Regulation and Tenants' Protection Bill, 2026 (HB.2839), which seeks to address exploitative rental practices and regulate relationships between landlords, estate agents and tenants. The bill, jointly sponsored by Paul Nnamchi (APC, Enugu) and Ahmed Doro (PDP, Katsina), seeks to prohibit landlords, property managers and estate agents from demanding or compelling tenants to pay more than 12 months' rent in advance. It also proposes regulating tenancy agreements, estate agency practices, unlawful evictions, refunds and dispute resolution in the FCT. However, the proposal does not completely prohibit voluntary multi-year rent payments. It allows tenants to pay beyond 12 months where they initiate the arrangement without coercion, threats, discrimination or retaliation and document the agreement in writing. The bill generated debate during its consideration, with some lawmakers supporting government intervention to protect tenants while others warned against excessive restrictions on landlords' property rights and freedom of trade. Chinedu Ogah, for instance, cited the high cost of commercial accommodation in Abuja, saying a three-bedroom office in Wuse could cost between ₦25 million and ₦30 million annually, excluding agency charges. Other lawmakers, including Ibe Osonwa (LP, Abia) and Patrick Umoh (APC, Akwa Ibom), raised concerns about restricting voluntary multi-year rental arrangements and the possible constitutional implications. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the sitting, defended the proposed regulation, arguing that housing was a fundamental human need that required government intervention. The bill is expected to undergo further legislative scrutiny, including committee consideration and consultations with relevant stakeholders.
In another legislative development, the House of Representatives considered a new legal framework to regulate trustee investments and protect the financial interests of beneficiaries. The proposed Trustee Investment Bill, 2026 (HB.2762), seeks to replace the existing Trustee Investment Act of 1957 with provisions reflecting changes in Nigeria's financial system and investment opportunities. A major provision of the bill is a proposed limit restricting trustees from investing more than 20 per cent of a trust fund's portfolio in a single issuer. Chairman of the House Committee on Capital Market and Institutions, Solomon Bob (APC, Rivers), disclosed the proposed limit during a public hearing on the bill at the National Assembly in Abuja. He said the provision was intended to prevent excessive concentration of beneficiaries' assets in one institution or investment and reduce their exposure to financial risks. The bill also seeks to expand the investment options available to trustees to include corporate bonds, equities, exchange-traded funds, real estate investment trusts, infrastructure funds, foreign investments through licensed custodians and regulated virtual assets. It further proposes stricter fiduciary obligations requiring trustees to act with loyalty, prudence, care and impartiality when managing assets entrusted to them. Other provisions include mandatory annual reporting to beneficiaries, fair valuation of trust assets and restrictions on speculative transactions and investments in unregulated schemes. Speaking at the hearing, Mr Bob said the existing law had become outdated, noting that Nigeria's capital market was now valued at more than ₦80 trillion, while pension assets exceeded ₦30 trillion. However, he expressed concern over the poor attendance of invited institutions at the hearing, saying only three of approximately 12 organisations invited were represented. The Securities and Exchange Commission, Debt Management Office and Association of Corporate Trustees attended and made submissions. Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, represented at the event by Abubakar Sarki (APC, Nasarawa), said the proposed reforms must balance investment growth with the protection of beneficiaries' assets.