• Senate passes 6 bills on money laundering, crime proceeds, federal institutions
The National Assembly is set to transmit the State Police Bill to President Bola Tinubu for assent following its approval by 28 State Houses of Assembly, exceeding the constitutional requirement of 24 states, even as the Senate, yesterday, passed six other bills seeking to strengthen the fight against money laundering, improve the recovery of proceeds of crime and provide legal backing for federal medical and educational institutions.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, who disclosed the development in a statement on Tuesday, November 3, said his office had received and verified the reports and accompanying Votes and Proceedings from the 28 state legislatures, confirming that the proposed constitutional amendment had secured the necessary concurrence for the next stage of the legislative process.
The approvals represent more than the two-thirds majority of the 36 State Houses of Assembly required under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution for an alteration of the Constitution, effectively clearing the administrative hurdle for the transmission of the bill to the President.
Ogunlana explained that the verification was undertaken to establish the authenticity of the documents submitted by the state legislatures and ensure that they accurately reflected the decisions reached by the respective assemblies.
“Following the receipt and verification of the reports, the Office confirms that 28 State Houses of Assembly have approved the Bill.
“This represents more than the constitutionally prescribed threshold of not less than two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, equivalent to 24 States, as required under Section 9 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999,” the statement said.
The bill, formally known as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, was passed by the Senate on June 24, 2026, and subsequently by the House of Representatives on July 23, 2026, before being transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for concurrence.
According to Ogunlana, the proposed amendment was forwarded to the state legislatures on September 16, 2026, with a request that they communicate their decisions to the National Assembly within 30 days.
Although the stipulated period elapsed on October 15, he explained that his office would continue to receive reports from other state assemblies until the bill was formally transmitted for presidential assent.
The Clerk also clarified the legislative procedure applicable to constitutional amendments, particularly questions surrounding whether such bills required another reading after receiving the concurrence of state legislatures.
“It is pertinent to clarify that Section 9 of the Constitution does not expressly prescribe a Third Reading for a Constitution Alteration Bill, unlike the procedure applicable to ordinary Bills,” he said.
On the next stage of the process, Ogunlana disclosed that the National Assembly had commenced the necessary administrative arrangements to facilitate the transmission of the bill to the President.
“In view of the approvals secured from the required number of State Houses of Assembly, the necessary administrative processes are being undertaken to facilitate the transmission of the Bill to His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for assent, in accordance with the Acts Authentication Act, CAP A2, (LFN) 2004,” he stated.
The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to provide the legal foundation for the establishment of state police services alongside the existing federal police structure as part of efforts to decentralise policing and strengthen responses to insecurity across the country.
If completed, the process would provide a constitutional basis for the introduction of state policing arrangements, an issue that has featured prominently in national discussions on security reforms and the restructuring of Nigeria’s policing system.
Ogunlana commended the State Houses of Assembly for their cooperation in considering the proposed amendment, describing their approvals as a significant step towards strengthening the country’s security architecture and deepening its federal system.
Meanwhile, the Senate, at plenary, yesterday, approved six bills transmitted from the House of Representatives for concurrence, including proposed amendments to the laws governing the recovery of proceeds of crime, prevention of money laundering, establishment of federal medical and educational institutions, and the operations of the National Sugar Development Council.
The bills were presented by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who urged his colleagues to support their passage, noting that they had completed the requisite legislative stages in the House of Representatives and satisfied the provisions of Order 78(3) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2026.
Among the proposed legislations was the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to strengthen the legal and institutional framework for the recovery, forfeiture and management of proceeds of crime and instruments used in unlawful activities.
The bill also seeks to provide greater protection for the rights and interests of victims in properties recovered through criminal investigations and related legal proceedings.
Similarly, the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposes the introduction of civil recovery proceedings against persons found in possession of properties or maintaining lifestyles inconsistent with their legitimate sources of income.
The proposed amendment is intended to strengthen existing measures against money laundering and provide additional legal mechanisms for addressing unexplained wealth.
On education, the Senate considered the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Item, Bende (Establishment) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to formally designate Bende, Abia State, as the location and host community of the university.
It also approved the Federal College of Education, Bende (Establishment) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to formally designate Item, Bende, Abia State, as the host community of the institution.
In the health sector, the Federal Medical Centres Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, seeks to amend the existing law to provide a legal framework for the establishment of Federal Medical Centres in Zuru, Kebbi State; Gumel, Jigawa State; and Monguno, Borno State.
The National Sugar Development Council Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, also received consideration, with provisions seeking to strengthen the functions and powers of the council.
Leading debate on the proposed legislations, Bamidele said the measures were necessary to strengthen existing legal frameworks and address identified gaps in the administration of federal institutions and the enforcement of relevant laws.
“These Bills are straightforward and have successfully passed through all the requisite legislative stages in the House of Representatives, and have also satisfied the provisions of Order 78(3) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2026.
“I therefore urge you all to support the Second Reading of these Bills as we refer them to the Committee of the Whole for Clause by Clause consideration,” he said.
Following the presentation, the Senate considered the bills in the Committee of the Whole and approved them.
The developments marked progress in the National Assembly’s consideration of legislation covering security restructuring, financial crime prevention, institutional development and regulatory reforms.
