Presidential committee targets September 3 for state police bill submission

The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill says it will present the proposed Executive Bill on the establishment of state police to President Bola Tinubu on September 3, 2026, as efforts to reform Nigeria's policing system progress.

Chairman of the committee and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this after the group's inaugural meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He explained that the bill forms part of a structured seven-week work plan designed to produce a comprehensive legal framework for state policing. According to him, once the President reviews and approves the draft, it will be subjected to a nationwide consultation before being forwarded to the National Assembly.

Gbajabiamila said the consultation process will give Nigerians the opportunity to examine key aspects of the proposal, including its legal provisions, funding model, operational safeguards and transition arrangements. He also invited individuals, professional bodies and other stakeholders to submit memoranda and practical recommendations to strengthen the legislation.

According to him, the committee's work programme runs from July 27 to September 14, 2026, with the September 3 presentation marking a major milestone in the process.

He stressed that although the timeline is ambitious, the committee remains committed to producing a thorough and well-considered bill that reflects broad stakeholder input.

The committee was inaugurated by President Tinubu in July to develop the legal and policy framework required for the implementation of state police as part of the Federal Government's broader security reform agenda.

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