The Federal Government has announced a seven-week roadmap for the proposed National Policing Bill and invited Nigerians to submit memoranda and policy recommendations to shape the legal framework for the establishment of state police.
The announcement was made on Monday by the Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, after a meeting at the State House in Abuja.
According to Gbajabiamila, the Working Group is reviewing the Police Act 2020, the Police Service Commission framework, police regulations and other relevant laws to develop a modern and effective policing system.
He said the proposed legislation would establish national minimum standards for state police, define state readiness and certification requirements, clarify operational responsibilities, ensure independent oversight, protect human rights and provide a sustainable funding framework.
The Federal Government has opened a two-week window for citizens, civil society groups, security agencies, academics, professional bodies, and state and local governments to submit memoranda and policy proposals. The contributions will be reviewed and incorporated into the draft bill before nationwide consultations.
The Working Group adopted a seven-week work plan running from July 27 to September 14, 2026, with the draft Executive Bill scheduled for presentation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on September 3, 2026, ahead of its submission to the National Assembly.
Gbajabiamila stressed that no state would be allowed to establish a police service without meeting strict 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.”
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who represented the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, described the proposed state police system as one of the landmark reforms of the Tinubu administration. He dismissed concerns that the Federal Government intends to control state police, saying the bill is designed to provide an operational framework rather than centralise authority.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, said the proposed law would safeguard lives and property while ensuring state police are not used for political persecution.
He added that states not immediately ready to establish their own police services would continue to rely on the Nigeria Police Force until they meet the required standards.
The meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, and other senior government and security officials.