Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed on Monday, August 3, 2026, that an Executive Bill on state policing will be presented to President Bola Tinubu next month for onward transmission to the National Assembly.
Gbajabiamila made this disclosure during a media briefing with State House correspondents following a meeting of the Presidential Working Group.
He also announced that President Tinubu had approved the establishment of a Policy Advisory Committee (PAC), to be led by Honourable Justice Mohamed Abulai Liman.
The PAC will comprise representatives from security agencies, academia, the judiciary, public policy experts, and state attorneys-general drawn from the six geopolitical zones to provide high-level technical oversight and validate supporting materials.
To ensure thorough deliberation, a nationwide consultation will precede President Tinubu’s final approval of the draft bill on September 3 before its formal submission to the legislature.
Gbajabiamila clarified that there is currently no operational state police service in Nigeria, as the proposed legislation remains subject to the completion of the constitutional amendment process and endorsement by state Houses of Assembly.
Until that process concludes, the Nigeria Police Force remains the sole constitutionally recognized police institution.
The proposed National Policing Bill aims to address key operational areas, including recruitment, training, funding, command structures, firearms regulation, and inter-agency cooperation.
Addressing concerns regarding potential abuse, Gbajabiamila emphasized that strict constitutional safeguards will be established to prevent political office holders from misusing state police services as partisan militias.
Additionally, states seeking to establish police services will be required to meet minimum national operational and financial sustainability standards.
The briefing was attended by prominent committee members, including Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu, Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and Nigerian Bar Association President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN.