National Policing Bill 90% Ready as Tinubu Government Targets National Assembly Submission Within Two Weeks

 
By Simpson Global Media News Desk

Nigeria’s proposed National Policing Bill is approaching the final stage of preparation, with the Presidency announcing that the draft is about 90 per cent ready and expected to be transmitted to the National Assembly within two weeks.

Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed the timeline on Thursday, October 15, after a steering committee meeting at the State House in Abuja. He said another meeting might be required to resolve outstanding issues, including observations submitted by state governors, before the proposed legislation is forwarded to lawmakers. https://statehouse.gov.ng/national-policing-bill-90-percent-ready-for-transmission-to-national-assembly-gbajabiamila/

The announcement marks a significant step in the Federal Government’s efforts to establish a legal and operational framework for state policing. However, the proposed bill has not yet been transmitted to the National Assembly, and the latest announcement does not mean that state police have already been established. Its eventual implementation will depend on the legislative process, the constitutional changes required and the arrangements put in place to ensure that new policing structures operate lawfully and accountably.

Gbajabiamila described the bill as one of the most consequential proposed laws of the Tinubu administration. He said the working group had conducted extensive deliberations since its steering committee began work in August, adding that the remaining observations would be addressed before the document was finalised. https://www.channelstv.com/2026/10/15/policing-bill-90-ready-for-transmission-to-nass-gbajabiamila/

Governors’ observations remain among the outstanding issues

The October 15 meeting brought together senior government officials, representatives of state governments, police leadership and other members of the presidential working group.

Those listed among the participants included Kwara State Governor and Nigeria Governors’ Forum chairman AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice was represented by Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary Beatrice Jedy-Agba. Other participants included representatives of the police reform secretariat, the National Security Adviser and the legal profession. https://statehouse.gov.ng/national-policing-bill-90-percent-ready-for-transmission-to-national-assembly-gbajabiamila/

Gbajabiamila said governors had raised a limited number of observations that the committee needed to consider. He expressed confidence that the work could be completed soon, while leaving room for another meeting to ensure that the draft covered the issues identified during consultations.

The two-week submission target is therefore a timetable announced by the working group, rather than confirmation that lawmakers have already received the bill. The committee must complete its remaining work and transmit the proposal before the National Assembly can begin formal consideration of the document.

The distinction matters because the development of a national policing framework involves more than deciding whether states should establish their own police services. Policymakers must also determine how federal and state police would operate, which institutions would supervise them, how complaints against officers would be handled and what safeguards would protect residents from political interference or abuse.

The final text will be important in determining whether the proposed framework can reconcile the demand for policing closer to local communities with the need for professional standards and respect for constitutional rights.

What the National Policing Bill is intended to achieve

The proposed legislation is part of a broader effort to establish the legal and operational arrangements needed to support state policing in Nigeria.

The Presidential Working Group previously said its review covered the Police Act 2020, the Police Service Commission framework, police regulations and other relevant laws. Its stated objectives include setting national minimum standards, defining readiness requirements for states, clarifying jurisdictional responsibilities, establishing independent oversight, protecting human rights and providing sustainable funding arrangements. https://statehouse.gov.ng/fg-announces-seven-week-roadmap-for-national-policing-bill-invites-public-input/

The framework is intended to address a fundamental question: how can Nigeria introduce policing structures at state level without creating competing, poorly regulated forces or allowing political authorities to use security agencies against opponents?

Under the existing arrangement, the Nigeria Police Force operates as a national institution. Supporters of reform argue that a system operating closer to communities could improve local intelligence, shorten response times and enable officers to develop a better understanding of local security threats.

However, state policing would also introduce new responsibilities for state governments and require clear rules on recruitment, training, financing, discipline, command structures and coordination with federal authorities.

The proposed bill is expected to provide a framework for those responsibilities. Its detailed provisions will need to be assessed when the final text becomes publicly available and is formally presented to lawmakers.

Why the debate over state policing has persisted

Calls for state police have grown amid continuing security challenges across Nigeria, including banditry, kidnapping, communal violence, insurgency and attacks on rural communities.

Nigeria’s geography and population create considerable demands on policing. Security threats vary across regions, from organised criminal activity and kidnapping to communal disputes, urban crime and attacks by armed groups. Local circumstances can influence how quickly information reaches authorities and how effectively security operations are organised.

Advocates of state policing contend that a more decentralised structure could allow states to recruit officers familiar with local communities, identify emerging threats and work more closely with traditional institutions, community leaders and local security organisations.

They also argue that state-level forces could reduce pressure on the national police structure by allowing some responsibilities to be handled closer to where incidents occur.

Yet the argument is not simply about whether local policing is desirable. It concerns how authority would be distributed and controlled in a federation where state governors wield substantial political influence and where policing powers can affect civil liberties, political competition and public order.

Critics of an inadequately designed system warn that state police could be vulnerable to political capture, selective enforcement or intimidation of opposition parties. Others have raised concerns about unequal funding, inconsistent training and the risk that states with fewer resources could be left with weaker security services.

The National Policing Bill will therefore face scrutiny not only over whether it enables state policing, but also over whether its proposed safeguards are practical and enforceable.

Constitutional amendment remains a separate requirement

The preparation of the National Policing Bill should not be confused with the constitutional amendment process needed to establish state police.

Gbajabiamila has acknowledged that the constitutional component is also important. During the October 15 briefing, he referred to the Sixth Constitution Alteration Bill on state police and concerns about the pace of approval across the states. He expressed confidence that there was broad national support for the proposed changes. https://www.channelstv.com/2026/10/15/policing-bill-90-ready-for-transmission-to-nass-gbajabiamila/

Constitutional amendments follow a distinct legal process involving the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly. Consequently, completing the draft National Policing Bill and sending it to lawmakers would represent progress, but would not by itself complete all the legal steps necessary to establish state police.

The two processes must be coordinated. A national law must operate within the constitutional framework, while constitutional changes must provide the necessary legal authority for the institutional arrangements contemplated by the legislation.

This is particularly important in determining the powers of federal and state authorities, the relationship between different police services and the rules governing investigations and operations that cross state boundaries.

The latest announcement does not establish that every state has completed the required constitutional approvals. The Presidency’s own comments indicate that the pace of the constitutional process remains a concern.

Safeguards against political interference

One of the most consequential questions for the proposed system is how it would protect the independence and professionalism of policing.

State governors are elected political officeholders, and a state police service would operate within a state-level political and administrative environment. Clear legal boundaries would therefore be necessary to prevent policing powers from being used to settle political disputes, intimidate critics or influence elections.

The working group has previously identified independent oversight, human-rights protection and clearly defined jurisdictional responsibilities as key elements of the proposed framework. It has also said that states should demonstrate credible arrangements for recruitment, vetting, training, pay, pensions, equipment, custody, complaints, discipline, data management, firearms control and financial sustainability before beginning policing operations. https://statehouse.gov.ng/fg-announces-seven-week-roadmap-for-national-policing-bill-invites-public-input/

Those commitments will need to be reflected in the final bill through specific and enforceable provisions.

An effective oversight system should provide ways for members of the public to report misconduct and receive a fair investigation. It should also establish clear disciplinary procedures, safeguards against arbitrary detention and mechanisms for investigating allegations involving senior officers or politically influential individuals.

The independence of complaint-handling bodies will be particularly important. If residents believe that complaints against officers will be ignored because the officers enjoy political protection, public trust in the new system could deteriorate.

Likewise, rules governing arrests, detention, searches, the use of force and access to legal representation would need to be consistent with constitutional rights and applicable law.

A credible system must be able to investigate crime while protecting citizens from unlawful coercion. Decentralisation alone cannot guarantee that outcome; institutional design, professional training and meaningful accountability are essential.

Recruitment, training and professional standards

The proposed framework will also need to address how state police officers would be selected, trained and assessed.

Recruitment systems must be designed to reduce favouritism and ensure that officers meet appropriate standards of competence and integrity. Transparent eligibility requirements, background checks and vetting procedures could help limit the risk of criminal infiltration or recruitment based primarily on political loyalty.

Training would need to cover criminal investigation, evidence handling, public-order management, conflict de-escalation, human rights, community engagement and the lawful use of force. Officers would also require clear operational procedures and supervision throughout their careers.

Consistent national minimum standards could help ensure that a person’s rights do not depend on the state in which an incident occurs. At the same time, local forces would need enough flexibility to respond to the specific security conditions and community needs within their jurisdictions.

Professional standards would also have to extend to senior officers. Appointment processes, promotion criteria, tenure arrangements and disciplinary rules could affect the extent to which a state police service operates as a professional institution rather than an extension of the governing party.

The bill’s provisions on training, leadership and oversight will therefore be central to determining whether state policing can command public confidence.

Funding could determine whether the system works

Establishing a police service requires sustained financing. States would have to consider not only initial recruitment and equipment costs, but also salaries, pensions, training facilities, vehicles, communications systems, forensic capacity, station maintenance and the cost of investigations.

The working group has identified sustainable funding as one of the principles underpinning the proposed framework. Its earlier outline also said that states would need to demonstrate financial sustainability and credible arrangements for officers’ pay, pensions and equipment before launching a service. https://statehouse.gov.ng/fg-announces-seven-week-roadmap-for-national-policing-bill-invites-public-input/

This requirement raises questions about differences in fiscal capacity across Nigeria’s states. Some states may be better placed to finance a comprehensive policing service, while others could struggle to meet recurring costs alongside existing public-sector obligations.

If the funding arrangements are inadequate, the consequences could include poor equipment, delayed salaries, weak training and uneven service quality. In a worst-case scenario, underfunded forces could become dependent on informal payments or political patrons, undermining the integrity of policing.

A workable framework will need to clarify how state police services are financed, how their budgets are scrutinised and what standards apply to financial reporting. It should also provide safeguards against the diversion of funds intended for operational needs.

Funding accountability is not merely an administrative detail. It affects whether officers can respond to emergencies, investigate crimes effectively and operate without improper financial pressures.

Coordination between federal and state police

The relationship between federal and state police services will be another defining issue.

Crime does not always remain within one state. Kidnapping networks, trafficking, organised robbery and other forms of criminal activity can involve several jurisdictions. Investigations may require evidence from different states or cooperation between local officers and federal agencies.

The proposed framework will therefore need to establish procedures for information sharing, joint operations, intelligence coordination and the transfer or handling of investigations where jurisdictions overlap.

It must also provide clarity on which authority takes the lead when federal and state police encounter the same incident or pursue suspects linked to a wider criminal network.

Poorly defined responsibilities could lead to duplication, disputes over command or delays in responding to emergencies. Clear protocols could instead allow each level of policing to contribute its local knowledge and operational capacity.

The federal police would also remain important during any transition to a decentralised system. The working group has previously indicated that states not immediately ready to establish their own police services would continue to benefit from the presence of the federal police until they meet the required standards. https://statehouse.gov.ng/fg-announces-seven-week-roadmap-for-national-policing-bill-invites-public-input/

That approach would recognise that states may not all be ready to launch their services at the same time. It also makes readiness criteria especially important: the process should not force states to establish police services before they have the personnel, finances and safeguards required to operate them responsibly.

Public consultation and transparency

The working group previously invited citizens, professional bodies, civil society organisations, security agencies, academics and state and local governments to submit memoranda and policy proposals on the proposed National Policing Bill.

The Presidency said those submissions were intended to inform the development of a comprehensive framework, with issues such as recruitment, oversight, funding, jurisdiction and human rights among the areas under consideration. https://statehouse.gov.ng/fg-announces-seven-week-roadmap-for-national-policing-bill-invites-public-input/

Public participation matters because policing reform affects residents directly. Communities have different experiences of crime, police response and the use of security powers. Their input can help identify practical problems that may not be obvious during meetings among senior officials.

Civil society organisations, lawyers, professional associations and community groups can also contribute to the development of complaint procedures, transparency requirements and safeguards against abuse.

As the bill approaches transmission, public access to its provisions will be important. Publishing the text and explaining its major clauses would allow citizens to assess what the proposal actually says, rather than relying only on broad descriptions of its objectives.

Transparency would also help distinguish between the national framework and the constitutional changes required to establish state police. Clear public communication could reduce confusion about what has been approved, what remains under consideration and what steps must follow.

What happens after the bill reaches the National Assembly?

If the Presidential Working Group meets its announced timetable, the National Policing Bill could be sent to the National Assembly within the next two weeks. The document would then enter the legislative process, where lawmakers would determine how it is considered and whether amendments are necessary.

The October 15 announcement does not specify a final date for passage. Nor does it mean that lawmakers have endorsed the draft. Transmission would be the beginning of formal legislative consideration, not the conclusion of the reform process.

Legislators would need to examine the bill’s relationship with existing law, its constitutional basis, the powers assigned to different authorities and the effectiveness of its accountability provisions.

Depending on the legislative process, committees and other relevant bodies could scrutinise the proposed framework, hear from stakeholders and consider changes. The precise timetable and eventual content will depend on decisions made by the National Assembly.

The constitutional amendment process would also need to advance in accordance with its own requirements. The interaction between the two processes will be crucial to determining when, and under what conditions, states could establish police services.

For the public, the key milestones will therefore include the actual transmission of the bill, publication of its provisions, legislative consideration, progress on the constitutional amendment and the development of practical implementation standards.

The security expectations facing the reform

The proposal is being developed against a backdrop of public concern over persistent insecurity. Communities affected by kidnapping, attacks on farms, armed robbery and other forms of violence want security agencies to respond more quickly and protect residents more effectively.

Supporters of state policing believe that local institutions could improve intelligence gathering and enable more targeted responses. Officers familiar with local geography, languages and community networks may be better placed to identify suspicious activity and build relationships that encourage residents to share information.

But expectations will need to be realistic. A new institutional structure cannot automatically resolve security problems caused by weak investigations, inadequate equipment, poor coordination, limited resources or broader criminal networks.

Effective policing depends on reliable intelligence, trained personnel, evidence-based investigations, functioning courts and cooperation between security agencies. State police would need to work within that wider system rather than operate as an isolated solution.

It will also be important to evaluate the reform against measurable outcomes. Response times, the quality of investigations, the resolution of complaints, public confidence and compliance with human-rights standards could help show whether new arrangements are delivering benefits.

Without transparent evaluation, the creation of new forces could become a political achievement measured by announcements and launches rather than improvements in public safety.

A test of federalism and public accountability

The proposed National Policing Bill raises broader questions about how security powers should be distributed in Nigeria’s federal system.

Those who support decentralisation argue that state governments should have greater capacity to respond to local security threats. Others emphasise the need for national cohesion, consistent professional standards and safeguards against the misuse of policing powers by powerful state officials.

These objectives are not necessarily incompatible. A carefully designed system could give states more operational responsibility while retaining national standards, legal protections and mechanisms for cooperation.

The challenge is to establish clear boundaries and credible oversight. A system that decentralises authority without accountability could expose residents to new forms of abuse. Conversely, a framework that creates excessive administrative barriers could prevent states from responding effectively to genuine security needs.

The bill’s final provisions will help determine how those competing concerns are balanced. Lawmakers and the public will need to examine the practical mechanisms proposed, rather than judge the reform solely by its stated aims.

Conclusion: Progress announced, but major steps remain

The Federal Government’s announcement that the National Policing Bill is approximately 90 per cent ready signals progress towards a possible restructuring of policing in Nigeria. Gbajabiamila has said the Presidential Working Group expects to transmit the draft to the National Assembly within two weeks, following further work on outstanding issues and observations from governors.

The next stage will be to see whether the committee meets that target and what provisions appear in the final text. The National Assembly’s consideration, the separate constitutional amendment process and the readiness of individual states will all shape the pace and form of implementation.

For Nigerians, the central question is whether the proposed arrangements can deliver safer communities while preserving professional policing, equal protection under the law and accountability for misconduct.

State policing could create opportunities for stronger local intelligence and faster responses to security threats. But its success will depend on credible recruitment, adequate and transparent funding, clear jurisdictional rules, coordination between police services and independent mechanisms for investigating abuses.

The October 15 announcement is an important development, but it is not the final outcome. The real test will come through the legislation’s details, the decisions of lawmakers and the institutions ultimately responsible for protecting lives and property.