By RhemDy News
President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill with his Chief of State, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila as the chairman.
The presidential, inaugurated on Tuesday was mandated to prepare the legal framework for the implementation of state police across the country.
A statement by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga disclosed that the President inaugurated the panel through his Chief of Staff, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The statement said the inauguration followed the National Assembly’s passage of the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, in which the President proposes a dual policing structure comprising the Federal Police Service and 36 State Police Services.
The President said that while the constitutional amendment creates the framework for state police, the National Policing Bill would provide the legal structure for its implementation.
He stressed that the proposed legislation would address issues necessary for a smooth operationalisation of the State Police system.
“The proposed National Policing Bill will include provisions on minimum policing standards, state readiness certification, federal-state coordination, accountability, human rights safeguards and fiscal conditions.”
Tinubu said that the committee will produce an implementation-ready draft bill immediately after the constitutional amendment process.
“The Working Group has been constituted to produce a technically robust, implementation-ready draft National Policing Bill for transmission to the National Assembly,” Tinubu said.
The President added that the committee was necessary to avoid delays after the passage of the State Police bill.
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, the Chairman of the NGF Committee on State Police are members of the committee.
On behalf of the NGF, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State pledged governors’ support for the speedy implementation of the reform.
Governor Abiodun said the plan was for the 36 state governors to accelerate work on the bill once it reaches their respective Houses of Assembly for unanimous passage.
“This bill has answered the cries of Nigerians about cascading policing and removing it from the Exclusive Legislative List," Governor Abiodun said.
He said the initiative validated the success of regional security outfits such as Amotekun in the South-West.
Abiodun further said the state police would significantly increase the number of security personnel nationwide.
“If each state deploys about 6,000 personnel, we will add nearly 200,000 officers to complement the existing federal police.”
The Governor commended Tinubu for initiating implementation plans before the constitutional amendment process was completed.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, described the initiative as timely in view of Nigeria’s security challenges.
“There is no denying the fact that we are in a critical moment security-wise, and all hands must be on deck,” he said.
Fagbemi urged governors to ensure speedy ratification of the constitutional amendment by their respective state assemblies.
President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Afam Osigwe, also reaffirmed the association’s support for the state police initiative.
“Nigeria can hardly be effectively policed by one national police. We fully support the constitutional amendment providing for state police,” he said.
Osigwe, however, stressed the need for adequate legal safeguards to prevent abuse of state police.
He pledged the NBA’s commitment to supporting the committee in producing legislation that will strengthen security while protecting citizens’ rights.
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