ABUJA, NIGERIA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated a Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, a move aimed at creating the legal framework required for the implementation of state police across Nigeria.
The committee was inaugurated at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with the President represented by his Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who will serve as chairman of the working group.
The development follows the passage of the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, by the National Assembly, which proposes a dual policing structure comprising the Federal Police Service and 36 State Police Services.
According to a statement by the President’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu noted that while the constitutional amendment provides the foundation for state police, the proposed National Policing Bill will establish the legal mechanisms needed to make the system operational.
“The Constitution Amendment Bill establishes the framework for dual policing, but it does not operationalise it. That work is left to the National Policing Bill,” the President said.
The proposed legislation is expected to address key areas including minimum policing standards, state readiness certification, coordination between federal and state police structures, accountability measures, human rights protections, and funding requirements.
Tinubu said the working group was established to ensure the preparation of a technically sound and implementation-ready draft bill for submission to the National Assembly immediately after the constitutional amendment process is completed.
“We must not wait until the constitutional process is concluded before beginning this important assignment,” he stated.
Members of the committee include the Attorney-General of the Federation, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Chairman of the NGF Committee on State Police.
Speaking on behalf of governors, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun pledged support for the speedy implementation of the reform, describing state police as a response to Nigerians’ longstanding demand for community-based security.
Abiodun said the initiative would complement existing security structures and could significantly increase the number of security personnel nationwide, noting that if each state deploys thousands of officers, the country’s policing capacity would be greatly expanded.
The governor also highlighted the role of regional security initiatives such as Amotekun as examples of community-based policing models.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), described the reform as timely, given Nigeria’s current security challenges, urging governors and state assemblies to support the constitutional amendment process.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, also expressed support for state police but stressed the need for strong legal safeguards to prevent abuse of power and protect citizens’ rights.
He said the country requires a policing structure that improves security while ensuring accountability and respect for fundamental freedoms.
The committee is expected to produce a comprehensive National Policing Bill that will guide the transition to a federal-state policing system.
