Tinubu inaugurates presidential working group on national policing bill

By Ayorinde Oluokun

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu moved forward with plans to establish police bill on Tuesday with the inauguration of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill.

The Committee which is tasked with the task of preparing the legal framework for the implementation of state police across the country was inaugurated at the Presidential Villa, Abuja by Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila on behalf of President Tinubu.

The inauguration of the working group, according to Bayo Onanuga, the spokesperson of President Tinubu followed the National Assembly’s passage of the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026.

The President had in the executive bill proposed a dual policing structure comprising the Federal Police Service and 36 State Police Services.

Speaking while inaugurating the working group on Tuesday, Tinubu noted that while the constitutional amendment creates the framework for state police, the National Policing Bill would provide the legal structure for its implementation.

“The Constitution Amendment Bill establishes the framework for dual policing, but it does not operationalise it. That work is left to the National Policing Bill.”

He said the proposed legislation would address issues necessary for a smooth operationalisation of the State Police system.

“The proposed National Policing Bill will include provisions on minimum policing standards, state readiness certification, federal-state coordination, accountability, human rights safeguards and fiscal conditions.”

The President said that the committee will produce an implementation-ready draft bill immediately after the constitutional amendment process.

“The Working Group has been constituted to produce a technically robust, implementation-ready draft National Policing Bill for transmission to the National Assembly,” Tinubu said.

He said the committee was necessary to avoid delays after the State Police bill passed.

“We must not wait until the constitutional process is concluded before beginning this important assignment,” he said.

According to the statement by Onanuga, Gbajabiamila will serve as the committee’s chairman of the National Working Group.

Other members are the Attorney-General of the Federation, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, the Chairman of the NGF Committee on State Police. A Secretariat will offer some administrative assistance to the committee.

Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, on behalf of the NGF, pledged governors’ support for the speedy implementation of the reform.

He said the plan is for the 36 state governors to accelerate work on the bill once it reaches their respective Houses of Assembly and is passed unanimously.

Abiodun described the proposed state police as a response to Nigerians’ long-standing demand for community-based policing.

“This bill has answered the cries of Nigerians about cascading policing and removing it from the Exclusive Legislative List.”

He said the initiative validated the success of regional security outfits such as Amotekun in the South-West.

Abiodun said the state police would significantly increase the number of security personnel nationwide.

“If each state deploys about 6,000 personnel, we will add nearly 200,000 officers to complement the existing federal police.”

The Governor commended President Tinubu for initiating implementation plans before the constitutional amendment process was completed.

“This inauguration demonstrates the proactiveness of the Executive in preparing for effective implementation,” Abiodun said.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, described the initiative as timely in view of Nigeria’s security challenges.

“There is no denying the fact that we are in a critical moment security-wise, and all hands must be on deck,” he said.

Fagbemi urged governors to ensure speedy ratification of the constitutional amendment by their respective state assemblies.

“I appeal to the governors to do their utmost to ensure the early passage of the constitutional amendment because this is a shared responsibility,” he said.

President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Afam Osigwe, reaffirmed the association’s support for the state police initiative.

“Nigeria can hardly be effectively policed by one national police. We fully support the constitutional amendment providing for state police,” he said.

Osigwe, however, stressed the need for adequate legal safeguards to prevent abuse of state police.

“We must ensure we do not create a monster. The right legal framework must guarantee accountability and prevent oppression,” he said.

He pledged the NBA’s commitment to supporting the committee in producing legislation that will strengthen security while protecting citizens’ rights.

Also present at the inauguration were the Attorneys-General and Commissioners for Justice of Plateau, Lagos and Ondo States, the representatives of the Inspector General and the National Security Adviser and senior government officials.