The Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has said the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill remains on course to deliver on the milestones outlined in its seven-week workplan, as the extended window for the submission of memoranda and position papers closes on Friday.

Gbajabiamila, who chairs the Presidential Working Group, said in a statement that the group had moved from its initial organisational phase to substantive policy and legislative work, with the first drafting sprint on the proposed National Policing Bill now underway.

According to him, the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC), chaired by Justice Mohammed Abdullahi Liman, JCA (rtd.), has been constituted and completed the first stage of its oversight mandate, providing the policy direction needed to guide the legislative drafting process. Legal drafters nominated by the Federal Ministry of Justice have also commenced work under the first drafting sprint, in line with the approved workplan and timetable.

He added that the national consultation process, which is running alongside the drafting exercise, had recorded substantial contributions from institutions, professional bodies, civil society organisations, security stakeholders, experts and members of the public.

Gbajabiamila said memoranda and position papers received through the consultation process were being systematically reviewed and analysed to ensure that relevant recommendations and perspectives were considered as work on the Bill progressed.

He noted that the extension of the submission deadline was granted to give stakeholders additional time to contribute to the process, adding that the window would close at 5:00 p.m. (WAT) on Friday, August 21, 2026.
He therefore urged interested institutions, organisations, professionals and members of the public who were yet to make submissions to do so before the deadline.

“As the consultation window closes, the Working Group will intensify its focus on the next phase of the drafting process, while sustaining the pace established during the opening weeks of its seven-week assignment,” he said.
The Working Group chairman expressed appreciation to institutions, organisations, professionals, experts and members of the public who had submitted memoranda and position papers and contributed to the national consultation exercise.

He said the inputs received constituted an important part of the process of developing a robust legislative framework capable of addressing Nigeria’s contemporary policing and internal security requirements.
The proposed National Policing Bill is being developed to provide the constitutional and legislative framework for a dual policing structure comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services, with appropriate institutional safeguards, accountability mechanisms and oversight arrangements.

Gbajabiamila said the Working Group remained committed to a rigorous, inclusive and time-bound process that would produce a comprehensive legislative proposal for consideration by the President and subsequent transmission to the National Assembly.

With the submission window for memoranda and position papers closing, the Working Group is expected to shift its attention fully to the next phase of the drafting process while continuing to work within the seven-week timeline set for the assignment.

The proposed National Policing Bill, once developed, is expected to be presented to the President for consideration before transmission to the National Assembly for legislative action.