The Federal Government on Monday commenced the process of developing the legal and operational framework for the implementation of state police, announcing a seven-week, milestone-driven programme to produce a comprehensive National Policing Bill that will guide the transition to a dual federal and state policing system.

Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this while briefing newsmen after inaugurating the inaugural meeting of the Presidential Working Group at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He explained that although the National Assembly had made significant progress on the constitutional amendment establishing state police, no state police service currently exists in Nigeria, stressing that the Nigerian Police Force remains the country’s only constitutionally recognised policing institution until the constitutional process is completed.

Gbajabiamila said the Senate approved the constitutional proposal on June 24, 2026, while the House of Representatives passed the Executive State Police Bill on July 23, 2026.

However, he noted that the amendment would only become effective after securing the constitutionally required approval of state Houses of Assembly and the enactment of implementing legislation.

“There is no operational state police service anywhere in Nigeria today. The Nigerian Police Force remains the constitutionally recognised police institution.

“The constitutional amendment creates the authority and broad architecture for federal and state policing, but it does not by itself provide the complete operating framework,” he said.

According to him, the amendment does not address critical issues such as recruitment, training, funding, command structure, jurisdiction, complaints mechanisms, data management, firearms regulation, pensions, transition arrangements and inter-agency cooperation.

He said these issues would be comprehensively addressed through the proposed National Policing Bill and accompanying legislative instruments.

Gbajabiamila explained that President Bola Tinubu established the Presidential Working Group to ensure Nigeria is fully prepared to implement state policing responsibly once the constitutional process is concluded.

“Our mandate is to produce a technically robust, implementation-ready National Policing Bill and supporting legislative package.
“We are building the legal and operational framework required to move from one federal police institution to a workable dual policing architecture,” he stated.

The Chief of Staff said the assignment includes a comprehensive audit of the Police Act 2020, Police Service Commission laws, police regulations and other legislation affected by the reform.

He added that the draft legislation would establish national minimum policing standards, objective criteria for assessing state readiness, federal-state cooperation mechanisms, jurisdictional rules, independent complaints institutions, human rights safeguards, rank equivalence, pension portability, interoperable criminal data systems, firearms control, funding arrangements, federal intervention procedures and the transition of existing security outfits.

Gbajabiamila said the Working Group comprises representatives of the Presidency, the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Nigerian Bar Association.

He disclosed that President Tinubu had also approved a multidisciplinary Policy Advisory Committee chaired by retired Justice Mohammed Abdullahi Liman to provide independent technical oversight.

According to him, the committee includes representatives of the judiciary, academia, security agencies, public policy experts, technology specialists, members of the National Assembly, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Nigerian Bar Association and state Attorneys-General drawn from the six geopolitical zones.

“The committee will review policy proposals, test assumptions, identify gaps and validate the legislative package before it proceeds for executive consideration,” he said.

Gbajabiamila announced that the approved work programme would run from July 27 to September 14, 2026, with legal drafting, policy research, implementation modelling and stakeholder engagement taking place simultaneously.

He said the final package would include not only the proposed bill but also explanatory memoranda, legal audits, consequential amendments, implementation plans, fiscal notes, state readiness frameworks, risk assessments and a comprehensive digital archive.

The Chief of Staff said the Federal Government was guided by the principle that stronger local policing must be balanced with effective national safeguards.
“State police cannot become 36 state militias, just as national standards cannot become a disguised method of centralising day-to-day state policing.

“No political office holder should be able to direct the arrest of political opponents, suppress lawful political activities or selectively enforce the law.

“Federal intervention must remain exceptional, evidence-based, proportionate, time-bound and subject to review,” he said.

He further explained that no state would be allowed to commence policing operations unless it demonstrates sufficient capacity in recruitment, vetting, training, remuneration, pensions, equipment, complaints handling, discipline, firearms management, data systems, independent oversight and financial sustainability.

Gbajabiamila stressed that while states could exceed national benchmarks, they would not be permitted to operate below nationally prescribed standards.

“No Nigerian should receive a lower standard of protection simply because of where they reside,” he declared.

The Federal Government also announced an open call for memoranda, policy papers and practical proposals from Nigerians, professional associations, civil society organisations, security institutions, sub-national governments and stakeholders at home and abroad.

He said all submissions would be documented, organised by theme and considered during the drafting process, adding that a nationwide consultation would be held before the final bill is submitted to President Tinubu for approval and transmission to the National Assembly.

Gbajabiamila acknowledged widespread concerns over possible political abuse, uneven state capacity, inadequate funding, ethnic bias and institutional duplication, describing them as legitimate issues that informed the comprehensive safeguards built into the reform process.

He maintained that the objective was not merely to establish state police but to create a lawful, professional and sustainable policing system that commands public confidence.

“This reform alone will not solve every security challenge facing Nigeria. No legislation can substitute for good leadership, professional policing, credible intelligence, adequate resources and public trust.

“But Nigeria now has an opportunity to build a policing architecture that reflects its size and diversity, a strong federal police service responsible for national and interstate security, alongside capable state police services responsible for local policing, all operating under common national standards that protect every Nigerian,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to actively participate in the consultation process to ensure that the emerging dual policing system reflects broad national consensus and serves the country’s long-term security interests.