ABUJA — The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill says it will submit an Executive Bill package to President Bola Tinubu on September 3, 2026, as the Federal Government moves closer to creating a legal framework for state police in Nigeria.
Chairman of the working group and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this on Monday after the group’s inaugural meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said the committee had adopted a seven-week, milestone-driven work plan running from July 27 to September 14.
According to him, the draft bill will first be presented to the President, after which a national consultation will be held to allow Nigerians and key stakeholders to review the proposed clauses, safeguards, funding arrangements and transition provisions.
“The resulting Executive Bill package is scheduled for presentation to the President on September 3,” Gbajabiamila said. “Subject to his approval, a national consultation on the completed draft will follow, after which the text and supporting materials will be revised and prepared for formal transmission to the National Assembly.”
Tinubu inaugurated the Presidential Working Group in July to prepare the legal and institutional framework for implementing state police across the country. The move followed the passage of the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, by the National Assembly, which proposed a dual policing structure made up of the Federal Police Service and 36 State Police Services.
Gbajabiamila said the committee’s timetable was ambitious but necessary, stressing that the process would not bypass public participation. “The timetable is demanding, but it is not a shortcut,” he said.
He also called for memoranda, position papers and practical proposals from state governments, security experts, civil society groups, traditional institutions, professional bodies and members of the public.
The state police proposal has gained momentum amid rising insecurity across Nigeria, including kidnappings, insurgency, banditry and communal violence. Supporters argue that decentralised policing would allow states to respond more quickly to local threats, while critics have warned that safeguards must be put in place to prevent abuse by governors and political actors. Reuters reported in June that Nigeria’s parliament had advanced the state police reform as part of efforts to improve security responses across the federation.
Gbajabiamila said the consultation phase would be critical to building public trust and ensuring that the final bill reflects operational realities, constitutional limits and the need for accountability.
If approved by the President, the National Policing Bill will be transmitted to the National Assembly for consideration.
