The Presidency has announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will receive the draft Executive National Policing Bill on 3 September 2026, marking a significant step towards establishing a legal framework for the proposed state policing system in Nigeria. The announcement was made by the Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, following the group’s inaugural meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to Gbajabiamila, the Working Group has adopted a seven-week implementation timetable running from 27 July to 14 September 2026. Before the bill is formally transmitted to the National Assembly, the Presidency will conduct a nationwide consultation to enable Nigerians to examine the draft legislation and submit feedback on its provisions, safeguards, funding arrangements and implementation strategy.
The Working Group has also invited members of the public, civil society organisations, professional bodies, security experts, state governments and other stakeholders to submit memoranda and position papers to help shape the proposed legislation. The Presidency said public participation is essential to ensuring that the new policing framework reflects the country’s security needs while protecting constitutional rights and democratic accountability.
Gbajabiamila stressed that the proposed state police system is not intended to create politically controlled security outfits but to establish a professional, accountable and sustainable policing structure that brings law enforcement closer to local communities while maintaining national standards. He noted that the constitutional amendment establishing state police has not yet come into force, as it still requires approval by the required number of State Houses of Assembly before becoming operational.
The proposal for state police has generated extensive national debate for years. Supporters argue that decentralising policing will improve intelligence gathering, rapid response and community security, particularly in states facing terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes. Critics, however, have expressed concerns that state police could be abused by political office holders unless strong constitutional safeguards, independent oversight mechanisms and clear operational standards are put in place.
The Executive Bill is expected to provide the legal and institutional framework for implementing the proposed dual policing system if the constitutional amendment process is successfully completed.
