Presidency says proposed law will define the operational framework for state police and strengthen safeguards against political abuse.
President Bola Tinubu is expected to receive the draft National Policing Bill on September 3 as the Federal Government advances plans to establish a constitutional framework for state policing in Nigeria.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this on Monday after a meeting of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill at the State House, Abuja.
Gbajabiamila, who chairs the working group, said the draft executive bill would first undergo a national consultation before being submitted to the President for final approval and transmission to the National Assembly.
“The resulting executive bill package is scheduled for presentation to the President on the third of September. We have tweaked the process so the national consultation will come before the President’s final approval, after which the draft will be revised and prepared for formal transmission to the National Assembly,” he said.
He explained that the reform programme is a seven-week exercise running from July 27 to September 14, 2026, with legal drafting, policy research, data analysis and implementation planning taking place simultaneously.
According to him, the final package will include the draft bill, explanatory memorandum, legal audit, implementation framework, fiscal and risk assessments, state readiness framework, validation report and other supporting documents needed to ensure effective implementation.
Gbajabiamila described the proposed legislation as a landmark reform aimed at creating a policing system that responds more effectively to local security challenges while maintaining national standards and constitutional safeguards.
“This is a monumental reform that Nigerians have debated for many years. Our task is to design a lawful, professional and sustainable federal and state policing system that brings policing closer to the people while preserving national standards and the rights of every Nigerian,” he said.
He noted that although the Senate approved the State Police Constitutional Proposal on June 24, 2026, and the House of Representatives passed the Executive State Police Bill on July 23, 2026, the constitutional amendment will only take effect after approval by the required number of state Houses of Assembly.
Until then, he said, the Nigeria Police Force remains the country’s only constitutionally recognised police institution.
Gbajabiamila explained that while the constitutional amendment would establish the legal basis for federal and state police services, the National Policing Bill would define operational issues, including recruitment, training, funding, command structure, jurisdiction, complaints, firearms regulation, pensions, data management and cooperation between federal and state police formations.
He said the Presidential Working Group was established by President Tinubu to ensure Nigeria is fully prepared once the constitutional amendment process is completed.
The Chief of Staff stressed that the proposed framework would not allow state police to become political tools.
“State police cannot mean 36 state militias. No political officeholder should be able to direct the arrest of an opponent or the selective enforcement of the law. Officers must answer to the Constitution and the law, not to partisan instruction,” he said.
He added that no state would commence policing operations until it demonstrates readiness in recruitment, vetting, training, welfare, equipment, oversight mechanisms and financial sustainability.
Gbajabiamila also announced an open call for memoranda and position papers from Nigerians at home and abroad, saying public input would help shape the final legislative proposal.
He acknowledged concerns over political interference, funding, unequal state capacity and command duplication, describing them as legitimate issues the proposed legislation is designed to address.
According to him, President Tinubu is committed to delivering a credible dual policing system capable of improving security while protecting constitutional rights and strengthening public confidence.