.The panel will evolve implementation-ready draft National Policing Bill for transmission to N’Assembly
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated an seven-man Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill to prepare the legal framework for the implementation of state police across the country.The President, represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, inaugurated the panel on Tuesday at the State House, Abuja.
Gbajabiamila will serve as the committee’s chairman while members include 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, Chairman of the NGF Committee on State Police. A Secretariat will offer some administrative assistance to the committee.The panel’s inauguration was sequel to National Assembly’s recent 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.
According to the President, while the constitutional amendment creates the framework for state police, the National Policing Bill would provide the legal structure 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.”He said the proposed legislation would address issues necessary for a smooth operationalisation of the State Police system.
