The Federal Government has unveiled a seven-week roadmap for the development of a National Policing Bill and called on Nigerians to submit memoranda and policy proposals to shape the proposed legal framework for the establishment and operation of state police across the country.
The announcement was made on Monday after a meeting of the Presidential Working Group on the proposed National Policing Bill at the State House, Abuja.
Speaking after the meeting, the Chairman of the Working Group and Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, said the initiative is aimed at creating a modern, effective and accountable policing system that will support a dual policing structure involving both federal and state police services.
According to him, the Working Group is reviewing the Police Act 2020, the Police Service Commission framework, existing police regulations and other relevant laws to develop a comprehensive legislative framework for policing in Nigeria.
Gbajabiamila explained that the proposed bill would establish national minimum standards for policing, define the requirements for state readiness and certification, clarify jurisdictional responsibilities, strengthen independent oversight, protect human rights and provide sustainable funding mechanisms. It will also outline a structured transition process to a dual-policing system.
He announced that the call for memoranda would remain open for two weeks, inviting contributions from citizens, professional bodies, civil society organisations, security agencies, state and local governments, academics and other stakeholders. The submissions will be reviewed and incorporated into the draft bill before it undergoes further nationwide consultations ahead of its transmission to the National Assembly.
The Working Group has adopted a seven-week work programme running from July 27 to September 14, 2026. Under the timeline, the draft Executive Bill will be presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on September 3, 2026, after which broader national consultations will be held before the legislation is finalised.
Gbajabiamila stressed that any state seeking to establish its own police service must first satisfy stringent operational and institutional requirements.
“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,” he said.
Also speaking, the representative of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, described the proposed state police framework as a landmark reform and one of the defining initiatives of President Tinubu’s administration.
He dismissed concerns that the Federal Government intended to dominate state police operations, insisting that the proposed legislation is designed to provide a uniform operational framework rather than centralise control.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, said the proposed legislation is intended to strengthen the protection of lives and property while preventing the abuse of state police for political persecution.
He added that states that are not immediately prepared to establish their own police services would continue to be served by the Nigeria Police Force until they meet the prescribed standards.
Other participants at the meeting included the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu; President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, SAN; Chairman of the Policy Advisory Committee, Justice Abdullahi Liman (Rtd.); Head of the Nigeria Police Reform Secretariat, Prof. Olu Ogunsakin; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Planning and Research, Nnadubem Moghalu; and Brigadier General Olutayo Muyiwa Adesuyi, who represented the National Security Adviser.
