The Federal Government has announced a seven-week work programme to drive the establishment of state police in Nigeria, opening a two-week window for citizens and stakeholders to submit memoranda on the proposed National Policing Bill.
Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Monday after a meeting of the Presidential Working Group on the proposed bill at the State House, Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu has listed state policing as one of his cardinal programmes to tackle insecurity nationwide.
The Chairman of the Working Group and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the framework being developed will address fears of abuse by governors and ensure a credible transition from the current unitary policing structure.
“The proposed framework will set national minimum standards, define state readiness and grant certification, clarify jurisdictional responsibilities, ensure independent oversight, uphold human rights, and guarantee sustainable funding. It would also spell out an orderly transition to a dual-policing structure,” Gbajabiamila said.
He added that any state wishing to establish its own police must demonstrate capacity in recruitment, vetting, training, pay, pensions, equipment, custody, complaints, discipline, data management, firearms control, independent oversight and financial sustainability.
“A proposed State Police Service must demonstrate that it has credible arrangements… before it begins policing,” he said.
The Working Group has called for submissions from citizens, professionals, civil society, security agencies, state and local governments, academics and other stakeholders.
“The call for memoranda will run for two weeks,” Onanuga stated. “Submissions will be reviewed and integrated into the draft bill, which will then be subject to further national consultation before being finalised and sent to the National Assembly.”
The group is reviewing the Police Act 2020, the Police Service Commission framework, police regulations and other relevant laws.
7-week timeline
The roadmap runs from 27 July to 14 September 2026. Key dates include:
– Draft Executive Bill: scheduled for presentation to President Tinubu on 3 September 2026
– National consultations: to follow before final approval
The new National Policing Bill will also set requirements for recruitment, training, oversight, funding and transition arrangements.
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, representing the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, described state police as a “landmark reform” and one of the defining initiatives of the Tinubu administration.
Responding to concerns about federal overreach, Abiodun clarified that “there is no federal attempt to control State Police,” adding that the legislation is meant to provide an operational framework, not centralise control.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said the bill is designed to guarantee security of lives and property while ensuring state police does not become a tool for political persecution.
He noted that states not immediately ready to establish their own police services would continue to rely on federal police until they meet the required standards.
A bill to alter the constitution to allow state policing has already been passed by the National Assembly. It requires ratification by 24 of Nigeria’s 36 state assemblies and the president’s assent to become law.
Other participants at the meeting included the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu; NBA President, Afam Osigwe; Chairman, Policy Advisory Committee, Abdullahi Liman; Head of Nigeria Police Reform Secretariat, Olu Ogunsakin; SSA to the President on Planning and Research, Nnadubem Moghalu; and a representative of the National Security Adviser, Brig. Gen. Olutayo Adesuyi.
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