Nigeria’s proposed state policing framework has moved a step closer to legislative consideration, with the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill submitting its draft legislation to the Federal Ministry of Justice for review and validation.
The draft bill, accompanied by 29 consequential amendment bills, was submitted on October 19 to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, according to the working group’s chairman and Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The ministry is expected to return the validated bills to the working group on or before October 30 for final consideration ahead of their presentation to President Tinubu.
Gbajabiamila had earlier indicated that the proposed legislation could be presented to the National Assembly within about a week, subject to the incorporation of observations from state governors.
The proposed law seeks to establish a dual policing structure comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services, providing the operational framework for the implementation of state police in Nigeria.
According to Gbajabiamila, the Justice Ministry’s review will ensure that the bills comply with legislative drafting standards and conventions while avoiding conflicts with existing laws.
He said the working group remained committed to a rigorous and transparent process to produce a comprehensive legislative proposal for the president’s consideration and eventual transmission to the National Assembly.
The development comes as state Houses of Assembly continue to consider the constitutional amendment required to pave the way for state police. The process must secure approval from at least 24 of Nigeria’s 36 state assemblies before the amendment can proceed.
Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Zamfara are among the states reported to have approved the ratification bill.
The working group was established on July 7 after the National Assembly advanced the state police proposal as part of President Tinubu’s broader security reform agenda.
While the proposed constitutional amendment would provide the legal foundation for state policing, the National Policing Bill is intended to establish the practical rules governing its operation, including the relationship between federal and state police structures.
To deliver on its mandate, the working group adopted a seven-week operational roadmap running from July 27 to September 14. The process included a review of existing legislation, including the Police Act 2020, and the preparation of an initial draft of the proposed law.
The committee also opened a two-week public consultation, inviting memoranda and policy recommendations from security experts, civil society organisations and members of the public to help shape an accountable, citizen-focused policing framework.
With the draft now before the Justice Ministry, attention turns to the legal review and the outstanding constitutional steps that must be completed before the proposed state policing system can advance towards implementation.
