The Presidential Working Group on the proposed National Policing Bill has invited Nigerians to submit memoranda and policy proposals as part of efforts to establish a comprehensive legal and operational framework for state policing.
A statement by Mr Bayo Ononuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, revealed that the Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Working Group, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, announced this on Monday after the Working Group’s meeting at the State House, Abuja.
He disclosed that the proposed framework will see national minimum standards, define state readiness and grant certification, clarity jurisdictional responsibilities, ensure independence oversight, uphold human rights, and guarantee sustainable funding. It would also spell out orderly transition to dual – policing structure.
According to the statement the call for memoranda will run for two weeks, allowing citizens, professionals, civil society, security agencies, state and local governments, academics and other stakeholders to contribute. Submission will be reviewed and integrated into the draft bill, which will then be subject to further national consultation before being finalised and sent to the National Assembly.
The Working Group has adopted a seven – week work programme running from July 27 to September 14, 2026. The draft Executive Bill is scheduled for presentation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on September 3, 2026 with national consultations to follow before the final approval.
The new National Policing Bill will set out requirements for recruitment, training, oversight, funding, and transition arrangements to ensure credible, effective and accountabie policing nationwide.
“A proposed State Police Service must demonstrate that it has credible arrangements for recruitment, vetting, training, pay, pensions, equipment, custody, complaints, discipline, data, firearms control, independent oversight and financial sustainability before it begins policing,” Gbajabiamila said.
The statement revealed that the representative of Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, who described State Police as a landmark reform, and also described the initiative as one of the defining reforms of President Tinubu’s administration.
Responding to the concerns about Federal overreach, he clarified that there is no federal attempt to control state police. He added that the proposed legislation is intended to provide an operational framework rather than centralise control.
Prince Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney – General and Minister of Justice, said the proposed National Policing Bill is designed to guarantee the security of lives and property while ensuring that the establishment of state police does not become a tool for political persecution.
The Attorney – General added that states not immediately ready to establish their own police services would continue to benefit from the presence of the Federal Police until they meet the required standards.
Other participants at the meeting included the Inspector – General of Police, Tunji Disu; President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Afam Osigwe; Chairman, Policy Advisory Committee, justice Abdullahi Liman (rtd); Professor Olu Ogunsakin; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Planning and Research, Nnadubem Moghalu; and Brigadier – General Olutayo Muyiwa Adesuyi, representing the National Security Adviser.
