MORGANABLE POLITICS/LeGislative Affairs
The process is structured to ensure that all necessary components of the proposed legislation are thoroughly developed before submission to the President and eventual transmission to the National Assembly
kaNo —
President Bola Tinubu is set to receive the Executive National Policing Bill for review on September 3, as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to establish a legal and operational framework for state policing in Nigeria.
The Presidency disclosed this on Monday, alongside the launch of a public information portal designed to allow Nigerians to contribute to the shaping of the proposed legislation.
The Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, made the announcement while briefing State House correspondents after a meeting of the group at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He explained that the initiative marks a critical phase in what has long been one of Nigeria’s most debated security reforms.
Committee Adopts 7-Week Milestone
According to Gbajabiamila, the working group has adopted a seven-week, milestone-driven work plan running from July 27 to September 14, 2026.
“The resulting Executive Bill package is scheduled for presentation to the President on the 3rd of September,” Gbajabiamila said.
“Subject to his approval, and we have adjusted the process to ensure national consultation comes before the President’s final approval, the text and supporting materials will then be revised and prepared for formal transmission to the National Assembly.”He added.
He described the proposed legislation as comprehensive, noting that the final package would include multiple supporting documents such as schedules, an explanatory memorandum, a legal audit, a matrix of consequential amendments, and a clause-by-clause analysis.
Other components include a state readiness framework, a fiscal and implementation note, a validation report, a risk register, and a controlled digital archive.
Reform Aimed At Creating Balanced Policing Structure
Gbajabiamila emphasised that the reform is intended to create a balanced policing structure that strengthens security at the grassroots while maintaining national cohesion and standards.
“This is a monumental reform that Nigerians have debated for many years,” he said.
“Our central task now is to design a lawful, professional, and sustainable federal and state policing system that places greater capability closer to the people while preserving national standards, national security, and the rights of every Nigerian.”
He clarified that while the National Assembly has already made progress on the constitutional amendment required to establish state police, the amendment is not yet operational.
The Senate approved the proposal on June 24, 2026, while the House of Representatives passed its version on July 23, 2026. However, the amendment must still be ratified by state Houses of Assembly before it can take effect.
“Until that process is concluded, there is no operational state police service anywhere in Nigeria,” he explained. “The Nigeria Police Force remains the constitutionally recognised police institution.”
Proposed Framework To Address Abuse Of Power
A major concern surrounding state policing has been the potential for political misuse, a point Gbajabiamila addressed directly.
He stressed that the proposed framework would include safeguards to prevent abuse of power by state authorities.
“State police cannot mean 36 state militias,” he said.
“No political officeholder should be able to direct the arrest of an opponent, the suppression of lawful political activity, or the selective enforcement of the law. Federal intervention must remain exceptional, evidence-based, proportionate, time-limited, and subject to review.”
Presidency Launches Online Portal For Citizens’ Contributions
As part of efforts to ensure inclusivity, the Presidency has launched an online portal through which citizens can submit memoranda and position papers.
“There will be a website for members of the public to learn about the stages of what we’re doing and to contribute their views,” he said.
“The public is included, no matter your station in life.”he added
On the issue of funding, Gbajabiamila declined to provide an estimated cost for implementing state policing, noting that any figure given at this stage would be speculative.
He maintained that the eventual cost would be determined through detailed research and would vary from state to state.
“There is no cost that will be too much to secure lives and property,” he said.
“The cost will be evidence-based and determined on a state-by-state basis, taking into account differences in personnel, infrastructure, and local needs.”
Addressing concerns that national standards could undermine state autonomy, Gbajabiamila argued that such standards are necessary to ensure minimum safeguards across the country.
“National standards are not a ceiling but a floor. They ensure that no citizen is shortchanged because a state cannot meet the minimum requirements. States that have the capacity can go beyond those standards.”
He added that in situations where a state is unable to establish or sustain its own police service, the federal police would continue to provide security coverage.
“The law abhors a vacuum. If a state truly lacks the capacity, the federal police will remain in place until that state is ready.”he noted
AGF Cautions Against Misuse Of State Police
Also speaking on the matter, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, cautioned against the misuse of state police for political purposes.
He stressed the importance of maintaining safeguards to protect citizens and ensure social stability.
“It is important that we do not make state policing a weapon of political persecution or oppression,” Fagbemi said. “
There must be a minimum threshold to guarantee the continued existence and operation of society.”He added
Similarly, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun highlighted the complexity of translating the constitutional amendment into workable legislation.
He pointed out that the proposed law would require adjustments to several existing legal frameworks, including those governing firearms and other security-related matters.
“This bill has to address different consequential amendments to other parts of the Constitution,” Abiodun said.
“For instance, the Firearms Act currently recognises only a unitary policing system. We must clearly define where the powers of the federal police end and where those of the state police begin.”He added.
The renewed push for state policing follows years of debate over Nigeria’s centralised security structure, which critics argue is overstretched and unable to adequately address local security challenges.
Proponents believe decentralising policing will improve response times, enhance community engagement, and strengthen overall security.
However, concerns persist about funding, accountability, and the risk of political interference, issues the current legislative process aims to address comprehensively.
As consultations continue and Nigerians prepare to submit their inputs through the newly launched portal, attention will now shift to September 3, when President Tinubu is expected to review the bill.
The outcome of that review is likely to determine the next phase of what could become one of the most significant security reforms in Nigeria’s recent history.
