State Police Bill: Presidency Extends Submission Deadline

The Presidency has extended the deadline for Nigerians and other stakeholders to submit memoranda and position papers on the proposed National Policing Bill to August 21, 2026.

The extension was announced on Thursday by the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The new deadline is 5pm on Friday, August 21, giving individuals, organisations and institutions more time to study the proposed legislation and submit their views.

The Presidency had earlier set August 13 as the closing date for the public consultation. However, the working group said the additional time would allow more Nigerians and relevant groups to make detailed contributions to the proposed law.

The National Policing Bill is being developed as part of efforts to reform Nigeria’s policing system and create a framework that can respond more effectively to security challenges across the country.

The proposed law is expected to address areas such as police funding, recruitment, training, command structures, operational duties, cooperation between security agencies and accountability.

It will also provide safeguards aimed at protecting citizens’ rights and reducing the risk of political interference or abuse of police powers.

Gbajabiamila urged legal practitioners, civil society groups, security experts, state governments, professional organisations, academics and members of the public with relevant views to use the extended period to submit their recommendations.

All submissions are expected to be made through the official National Policing Bill portal before the new deadline.
The working group said the views received from stakeholders would assist in preparing a final draft of the Bill. The completed proposal will later be forwarded for legislative consideration.

The consultation began on August 3, 2026, when Gbajabiamila announced the opening of the National Policing Bill portal and invited Nigerians to participate in the process.

The proposed reform comes amid ongoing discussions about the need for changes to Nigeria’s policing structure, including calls for stronger community-based policing and possible state police services.

The working group is expected to complete its assignment and submit the final Executive Bill package to President Bola Tinubu for review on September 3, 2026.