President Bola Tinubu is expected to receive the proposed National Policing Bill on September 3, 2026, as the Federal Government moves ahead with plans to establish state policing across Nigeria.
CLICK THE LINK TO READ FULL LIST
- Advertisement -
Related News
Sponsored Ads
The Presidency made this known on Monday after a meeting of the Presidential Working Group at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where officials also announced the launch of a public website for Nigerians to contribute suggestions before the bill is forwarded to the National Assembly.
- Advertisement -
The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the drafting process began on July 27 and will continue until September 14. He explained that the proposed Executive Bill will first be presented to President Tinubu before the government concludes public consultations and prepares the document for submission to lawmakers.
According to the Presidency, the proposed legislation is intended to create a policing system that allows both the Federal Government and state governments to operate within clearly defined legal boundaries. The plan is to improve security by bringing law enforcement closer to local communities while maintaining national standards and protecting the rights of citizens.
Gbajabiamila explained that although the National Assembly has approved constitutional amendments relating to state police, the process is not yet complete. He said the amendments must still receive approval from the required number of State Houses of Assembly before they can become part of the Constitution. Until then, the Nigeria Police Force remains the country’s only constitutionally recognised police organisation.
He also said the proposed framework would include safeguards to prevent the misuse of state police by political office holders. According to him, no governor or public official should have the power to use security agencies to harass political opponents or interfere with lawful political activities. He added that any federal intervention in the operations of state police would only happen under limited and clearly defined conditions.
As part of the consultation process, the Presidency introduced an online platform where members of the public can submit memoranda and recommendations on the proposed legislation. The portal will remain open for about two weeks, with the possibility of an extension to allow more Nigerians to participate in the process.
On the financial implication of implementing state policing, Gbajabiamila said it was too early to determine the exact cost because detailed studies are still ongoing. He noted that protecting lives and property remains a priority, while the final funding arrangement would depend on the needs and capacity of individual states. He added that the proposed framework would set national policing standards while allowing states with greater resources to provide additional support where necessary.
Comments are closed.