President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill to develop the legal framework for the implementation of state police across Nigeria.
The President, represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, inaugurated the committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The move 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.
President Tinubu said that while the constitutional amendment establishes the framework for state police, the proposed National Policing Bill will provide the legal and operational structure required for its implementation.
According to him, the legislation will address issues including minimum policing standards, state readiness certification, federal-state coordination, accountability mechanisms, human rights safeguards and fiscal requirements.
The President said the committee was constituted to produce a technically sound and implementation-ready draft bill for transmission to the National Assembly immediately after the constitutional amendment process is concluded.
Gbajabiamila will chair the committee, which includes 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 other key stakeholders.
Speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun pledged the support of state governors for the initiative and expressed optimism that state assemblies would expedite consideration of the constitutional amendment.
Abiodun described the proposed state police system as a response to longstanding calls for community-based policing and improved security across the country.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, described the initiative as timely, urging governors to facilitate the speedy ratification of the constitutional amendment by their respective state legislatures.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, also expressed support for the reform, while calling for adequate legal safeguards to ensure accountability and prevent abuse of state police structures.
The Federal Government said the initiative is aimed at strengthening security architecture, improving law enforcement efficiency and addressing evolving security challenges across Nigeria.
