The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill has announced that the proposed Executive Bill for the implementation of state police will be presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for review on September 3, 2026.
This was disclosed on Monday by the Chairman of the Working Group and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, after the committee’s inaugural meeting at the State House in Abuja.
Gbajabiamila stated that the committee has commenced administrative and technical work on the legal framework required for the operationalisation of state police across the country. The entire process is designed as a seven-week, milestone-driven exercise running from July 27 to September 14, 2026.
“The approved work programme is a seven-week, milestone-driven exercise running from July 27 to September 14, 2026,” Gbajabiamila said. “The resulting Executive Bill package is scheduled for presentation to the President on September 3.
“Subject to his approval, a national consultation on the completed draft will follow, after which the text and supporting materials will be revised and prepared for formal transmission to the National Assembly. The timetable is demanding, but it is not a shortcut.”
President Tinubu had in July inaugurated the Presidential Working Group to develop the necessary legal framework for implementing state police, following the National Assembly’s passage of the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026. While the constitutional amendment creates the framework for a dual policing structure comprising the Federal Police Service and State Police Services, the National Policing Bill is expected to provide the detailed operational guidelines.
These will include provisions on minimum policing standards, state readiness certification, federal-state coordination, accountability mechanisms, human rights safeguards, and fiscal conditions.
Gbajabiamila emphasised that members of the public will have the opportunity to contribute to the drafting process through the submission of memoranda, position papers, and practical proposals via the dedicated website, nationalpolicingbill.com. The window for submissions is expected to remain open for about 10 days, with the possibility of an extension if necessary.
“The public is included. No matter your station in life, you have an opportunity to contribute meaningfully, because the whole idea behind state policing is for you and I and everybody sitting here and everybody out there to take ownership,” he said.
On the financial implications of establishing state police, Gbajabiamila noted that it was too early to provide cost estimates, stressing that any figures must be evidence-based and determined on a state-by-state basis, taking into account differences in personnel, infrastructure, and local security needs.
“There is no cost to securing life and property. That is the first fundamental reason for being in government,” he added.
The development marks a significant step in the Tinubu administration’s efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture and bring policing closer to the communities.