State Police Executive Bill for Tinubu’s Review September 3 — Gbajabiamila

The Federal Government has begun the process of drafting the National Policing Bill to operationalise state police, setting a seven-week timeline to produce the legal framework for what it describes as a constitutional, professional and accountable dual policing system.

The government says while the constitutional amendment creates room for state police, comprehensive legislation is required to define responsibilities, funding, safeguards and operational standards before implementation.

With the constitutional amendment on state policing already underway, the Federal Government is moving to the next phase—developing the law that will govern its implementation.

READ ALSO: Reps Pass Executive Bill On State Police

Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, says President Bola Tinubu has approved a seven-week work plan to produce an Executive Bill for a dual policing system.

Beyond the proposed legislation, the Working Group says it will prepare implementation plans, funding models, legal audits, operational guidelines and a state readiness framework before nationwide consultations.

Responding to concerns that national policing standards could weaken state autonomy, Gbajabiamila says the standards are minimum safeguards to prevent abuse, guarantee accountability and ensure every Nigerian enjoys the same basic level of protection regardless of where they live.

He also announced an open call for memoranda and proposals from Nigerians, while unveiling an online portal for public participation.

Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, says the proposed national minimum standards are intended to ensure that state police are not used as instruments of political persecution, while Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, describes the proposed state police legislation as one of the most significant reforms of the Tinubu administration, saying it will clearly define the powers of the federal and state police, funding arrangements and operational boundaries.

The Federal Government also says states that are not immediately ready to establish their own police services will continue to rely on the Nigeria Police Force until they meet the prescribed operational standards, insisting that the reform is designed to strengthen national security rather than replace the existing policing structure.