The proposed establishment of state police in Nigeria has taken another step forward, with the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill submitting the draft National Policing Bill,2026, and 29 consequential amendment bills to the Federal Ministry of Justice for legislative drafting review.

The submission marks the completion of the drafting stage of the working group’s assignment and sets the stage for the final review of the proposed legal framework for a dual policing structure comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.

Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying the documents were submitted to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on October 19, in line with the group’s work plan.

The Ministry of Justice is expected to scrutinise and validate the bills to ensure they comply with legislative drafting standards and conventions and do not conflict with existing laws.

Gbajabiamila said the ministry was expected to return the validated drafts to the working group on or before Friday, October 30, for final consideration ahead of their presentation to President Bola Tinubu.

The proposed National Policing Bill seeks to establish the constitutional and legislative framework for the operation of federal and state police services, a major institutional reform that would introduce a dual policing arrangement in the country.

Upon completion of the review, the working group will give the validated bills final consideration before submitting them to the President, bringing its assignment to a close.

The working group said it remained committed to a rigorous and transparent process that would produce a comprehensive legislative proposal for the President’s consideration and subsequent transmission to the National Assembly.

The development comes as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, is undergoing consideration by the state Houses of Assembly.

The constitutional amendment process must be completed before the bill is transmitted to the National Assembly, highlighting the parallel legislative steps required to advance the proposed policing reforms.

Gbajabiamila, who signed the statement dated October 20, said the working group’s submission of the draft bills to the Ministry of Justice was in line with its established work plan.