The Federal Government has invited Nigerians to submit memoranda and policy proposals on the proposed National Policing Bill as part of efforts to establish a legal and operational framework for state policing in the country.
The invitation was announced 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 of the group 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 policing system that supports both federal and state police structures.
He said the proposed legislation would establish national minimum standards for policing, define requirements for states seeking to establish police services, clarify operational responsibilities, strengthen independent oversight, protect human rights and provide a sustainable funding framework.
“The 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.
He disclosed that the public consultation would remain open for two weeks, allowing citizens, civil society organisations, security agencies, professional bodies, academics and state and local governments to submit contributions that would be considered in drafting the bill.
Gbajabiamila added that the Working Group had adopted a seven-week work plan running from July 27 to September 14, 2026, with the draft Executive Bill expected to be presented to President Bola Tinubu on September 3 before wider national consultations and submission to the National Assembly.
Also speaking, Ogun State Governor and representative of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dapo Abiodun, described the proposed state police initiative as one of the major reforms of the Tinubu administration.
He dismissed concerns that the Federal Government was seeking to control state police, saying the proposed legislation was intended to provide an operational framework rather than centralise authority.
“There is no Federal attempt to control State Police. The proposed legislation is meant to provide an operational framework, not to centralise control,” Abiodun said.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said the proposed law was designed to improve the protection of lives and property while preventing state police from being used for political persecution.
He noted that states that are not immediately prepared to establish their own police services would continue to rely on the Nigeria Police Force until they meet the prescribed requirements.
The meeting was attended by the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu; President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe; Chairman of the Policy Advisory Committee, Justice Abdullahi Liman (retd.); Head of the Nigeria Police Reform Secretariat, Prof. Olu Ogunsakin; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Planning and Research, Nnadubem Moghalu; and Brig.-Gen. Olutayo Muyiwa Adesuyi, representing the National Security Adviser.
