The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill says it will present an executive bill to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on September 3 as work continues to create the legal and operational framework for the proposed state police system.
After the group’s first meeting at the State House in Abuja, committee chairman and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the package would include both draft legislation and an implementation plan for a federal-state policing system once the constitutional amendment takes effect.
“The resulting executive bill package is scheduled for presentation to the president on the 3rd of September. We have tweaked the process so that the national consultation will come before the president’s final approval, after which the text and supporting materials will be revised and prepared for formal transmission to the National Assembly”, he said.
Gbajabiamila described the reform as a major step, saying it would create “a lawful, professional and sustainable federal and state policing system that places greater capability closer to the people while preserving national standards, national security and the rights of every Nigerian.”
He stressed that the constitutional amendment has not yet taken effect, meaning the Nigeria Police Force remains the country’s only recognised police institution.
He said the bill would also review the Police Act 2020, police regulations and related laws while covering funding, training, human rights safeguards, oversight, forensic systems, state certification, interstate cooperation and transition plans.
Gbajabiamila said states would only begin policing after meeting requirements on recruitment, training, equipment, funding, complaints handling, pensions, firearms control and independent oversight. “Operational commencement must be based on readiness, not announcement”, he said.
He added that the government would seek public input through memoranda and position papers before forwarding the bill to the National Assembly.
