The Presidency has announced that public submissions on the proposed National Policing Bill will close at 5pm on Thursday, August 13, 2026, as the Federal Government continues consultations on plans to establish state police in Nigeria.
The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, announced the deadline on Wednesday. He urged Nigerians, professionals and other stakeholders to submit their views and experiences to help shape the proposed legislation.
According to Gbajabiamila, the consultation is particularly focused on critical questions surrounding political interference, police misconduct, independent oversight and intelligence-sharing between federal and state police services.
The proposed state police system has generated considerable debate in Nigeria, with supporters arguing that decentralising policing could improve security by bringing law enforcement closer to local communities. State-based officers, they argue, could have better knowledge of local languages, communities, geography and crime patterns, potentially enabling faster responses to security challenges.
However, concerns over political abuse remain one of the biggest issues surrounding the proposal. Gbajabiamila acknowledged that governors could potentially misuse state police against political opponents, protesters, journalists, minority communities or other citizens if adequate safeguards are not established.
He stressed that the proposed framework must therefore combine effective local policing with strong national standards, independent oversight and protections for citizens.
Another important issue is accountability. The Presidency is seeking public input on who should investigate serious misconduct involving state police officers and how federal and state forces can effectively share intelligence, particularly when crimes cross state boundaries.
The proposed legislation, however, would not immediately create state police. Nigeria’s Constitution currently provides for the Nigeria Police Force, meaning constitutional amendments are still required before states can legally establish their own police services. Both chambers of the National Assembly have approved proposed constitutional changes, but further legislative steps remain before the process can be completed.
Even after the constitutional process, states would not automatically be required to establish police forces. States that choose to do so would need enabling legislation, appropriate institutions and adequate funding, while meeting nationally prescribed standards.
The National Policing Bill is expected to address areas including recruitment, vetting, training, remuneration, pensions, equipment and professional conduct, with the aim of establishing common standards across Nigeria’s policing system.
The Presidency has announced that public submissions on the proposed National Policing Bill will close at 5pm on Thursday, August 13, 2026, as the Federal Government continues consultations on plans to establish state police in Nigeria.
The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, announced the deadline on Wednesday. He urged Nigerians, professionals and other stakeholders to submit their views and experiences to help shape the proposed legislation.
According to Gbajabiamila, the consultation is particularly focused on critical questions surrounding political interference, police misconduct, independent oversight and intelligence-sharing between federal and state police services.
The proposed state police system has generated considerable debate in Nigeria, with supporters arguing that decentralising policing could improve security by bringing law enforcement closer to local communities. State-based officers, they argue, could have better knowledge of local languages, communities, geography and crime patterns, potentially enabling faster responses to security challenges.
However, concerns over political abuse remain one of the biggest issues surrounding the proposal. Gbajabiamila acknowledged that governors could potentially misuse state police against political opponents, protesters, journalists, minority communities or other citizens if adequate safeguards are not established.
He stressed that the proposed framework must therefore combine effective local policing with strong national standards, independent oversight and protections for citizens.
Another important issue is accountability. The Presidency is seeking public input on who should investigate serious misconduct involving state police officers and how federal and state forces can effectively share intelligence, particularly when crimes cross state boundaries.
The proposed legislation, however, would not immediately create state police. Nigeria’s Constitution currently provides for the Nigeria Police Force, meaning constitutional amendments are still required before states can legally establish their own police services. Both chambers of the National Assembly have approved proposed constitutional changes, but further legislative steps remain before the process can be completed.
Even after the constitutional process, states would not automatically be required to establish police forces. States that choose to do so would need enabling legislation, appropriate institutions and adequate funding, while meeting nationally prescribed standards.
The National Policing Bill is expected to address areas including recruitment, vetting, training, remuneration, pensions, equipment and professional conduct, with the aim of establishing common standards across Nigeria’s policing system.
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