By Chesa Chesa
The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill is set to finalise its report for submission to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu today, as it rounds off its seven-week assignment on the proposed establishment of State Police.
The Working Group, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, said it had reached the final phase of its mandate after completing the initial policy and legislative drafting stages.
The development comes as the extended deadline for the submission of memoranda and position papers on the proposed National Policing Bill closes at 5:00 p.m. today, Friday, August 21, 2026.
The Group said the first drafting sprint of the Bill was already underway, following the completion of the initial policy guidance by the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC), chaired by retired Justice Mohammed Abdullahi Liman.
Legal drafters nominated by the Federal Ministry of Justice have also been working on the proposed legislation in line with the approved seven-week workplan.
In a statement issued by Gbajabiamila, the Working Group said its national consultation exercise had attracted submissions from government institutions, professional bodies, civil society organisations, security stakeholders, experts and members of the public.
It said the memoranda and position papers received were being systematically reviewed and analysed to ensure that relevant recommendations were incorporated into the legislative proposal.
The proposed National Policing Bill is designed to provide the constitutional and legislative framework for a dual policing structure comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.
The framework is expected to include appropriate institutional safeguards, accountability mechanisms and oversight arrangements for the proposed policing structure.
The Working Group said the consultation process had provided valuable perspectives for developing a comprehensive framework capable of addressing Nigeria’s contemporary policing and internal security challenges.
It also expressed appreciation to all stakeholders who participated in the consultation exercise, stressing that their contributions would form an important part of the final legislative proposal.
The Group is expected to submit its report and proposed legislative framework to President Tinubu for consideration, after which the proposal could be transmitted to the National Assembly for further legislative action.
Gbajabiamila said the Working Group remained committed to delivering a rigorous, inclusive and time-bound outcome consistent with the seven-week assignment given to it.
State Police: Presidential Working Group finalises report for Tinubu today
