ABUJA, July 8, 2026 – 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.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the President said the committee would prepare an implementation-ready National Policing Bill to complement the recently passed Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026.
Tinubu explained that while the constitutional amendment establishes the framework for a dual policing system comprising the Federal Police Service and 36 State Police Services, the proposed legislation will provide the operational guidelines for its implementation.
“The Constitution Amendment Bill establishes the framework for dual policing, but it does not operationalise it. That work is left to the National Policing Bill," the President stated.
According to him, the bill will address critical issues including minimum policing standards, state readiness certification, federal-state coordination, accountability, human rights safeguards and funding requirements.
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, pledged the support of all 36 state governors, describing the initiative as a response to Nigerians' long-standing demand for community-based policing. He said state police could add nearly 200,000 security personnel nationwide if each state recruits about 6,000 officers.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, described the initiative as timely, urging governors to ensure speedy ratification of the constitutional amendment by their respective state assemblies.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, also endorsed the initiative but stressed the need for a robust legal framework to guarantee accountability, protect citizens' rights and prevent abuse of the proposed state police system.
The Working Group, chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila, includes key federal officials, security chiefs, representatives of the Nigeria Governors' Forum and the Nigerian Bar Association. It is expected to submit a comprehensive draft bill for transmission to the National Assembly immediately after the constitutional amendment process is concluded.