President Bola Tinubu is expected to receive the Executive National Policing Bill for consideration on September 3, as the Presidency enters the final stage of drafting legislation designed to establish a legal framework for state policing in Nigeria.
As part of the process, the Presidency has launched a public information portal to enable Nigerians submit memoranda, recommendations and position papers that will help shape the proposed legislation before it is forwarded to the National Assembly.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, announced that the Presidential Working Group has adopted a seven-week work plan spanning July 27 to September 14, 2026.
According to him, the Executive Bill package is scheduled to be presented to President Tinubu on September 3.
“The resulting Executive Bill package is scheduled for presentation to the President on the 3rd of September. This is a monumental reform that Nigerians have debated for many years,” Gbajabiamila said.
He explained that although the constitutional amendment establishing state police has been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly, it has not yet taken effect because it still requires approval by state Houses of Assembly.
Gbajabiamila noted that until that constitutional process is completed, no state police service can legally operate in Nigeria.
“Until that process is concluded, there is no operational state police service anywhere in Nigeria, and the Nigeria Police Force remains the constitutionally recognised police institution,” he stated.
The Chief of Staff also assured Nigerians that the proposed framework would contain safeguards to prevent abuse of state policing for political purposes.
“State Police cannot mean 36 state militias. No political officeholder should be able to direct the arrest of an opponent, the suppression of lawful political activity or the selective enforcement of the law,” he said.
He added that the newly introduced online portal is intended to ensure broad public participation by giving citizens across the country an opportunity to contribute ideas and recommendations before the bill is finalised.
Addressing concerns about the financial implications of implementing state police, Gbajabiamila said it was premature to estimate the cost of the reform, stressing that protecting lives and property should remain the government’s priority.
“There is no cost that will be too much to secure lives and property,” he said.