State Police Bill: Public Submissions Close Today as Nigeria Nears Historic Policing Reform

The Presidency has announced that the window for public submissions on the proposed National Policing Bill will close at 5 PM today, Thursday, August 13, 2026. Nigerians have until the deadline to contribute their views on the proposed legislation, a key component of the Federal Government’s efforts to establish state police across the country. The closure marks the end of an intensive public consultation period that has seen citizens, civil society organisations, and security experts weigh in on what could become one of the most transformative security reforms in Nigeria’s history.

Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, disclosed the deadline on Wednesday and urged citizens, professionals, and stakeholders to take advantage of the final opportunity to shape the proposed framework. The public consultation, launched on August 3 alongside the nationalpolicingbill.com platform, was deliberately opened while critical decisions were still being made, allowing professional expertise and lived experiences to influence the drafting process before the executive proposal is finalised. Gbajabiamila emphasised that this was not a mere token exercise but a genuine effort to ensure that the final bill reflects the aspirations and concerns of everyday Nigerians who would be most affected by the establishment of state police.

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One of the most persistent fears surrounding the state police proposal has been the possibility of political interference, and Gbajabiamila addressed this head-on, acknowledging that state governors could misuse state-controlled police forces against political opponents, peaceful protesters, journalists, and minority communities. He emphasised that the proposed framework must contain strong protections against abuse and that the law must be designed in a way that makes it difficult for political officeholders to bend police operations to their will. “The concern that governors might use state police against political opponents, minority communities or dissenting voices is serious and must be answered in the design of the law,” Gbajabiamila stated. He stressed that the proposed law must make “unlawful orders easier to resist, misconduct easier to investigate, and political interference harder to hide,” while also ensuring that citizens have access to credible complaints and independent oversight mechanisms. Officers, he added, must be properly recruited, trained, equipped, and supervised to maintain professional standards across all state police services.

Despite the progress made on the proposed National Policing Bill, Gbajabiamila clarified that state police cannot be established immediately and that significant constitutional hurdles remain. Section 214 of the Nigerian Constitution currently provides for only one police force—the Nigeria Police Force—meaning a constitutional amendment is required before states can establish separate police services. Both chambers of the National Assembly have approved proposed constitutional amendments providing for a Federal Police Service and State Police Services, but the process is not yet complete. The amendments must complete remaining legislative stages in the National Assembly, then be approved by at least 24 of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, and finally receive presidential assent. Gbajabiamila explained that “the constitutional amendment creates the authority and broad architecture for federal and state policing, but it does not by itself provide the complete operating framework,” underscoring the need for complementary legislation to fill in the operational details.

The Presidential Working Group is preparing the National Policing Bill to run alongside the constitutional amendment process, and the proposed legislation would establish national minimum standards covering a wide range of operational areas. These include recruitment, vetting, and training; remuneration, pensions, and equipment; professional conduct and discipline; use of force and complaints mechanisms; independent oversight; intelligence-sharing and cooperation between federal and state police services; and sustainable funding arrangements. The draft Executive Bill is scheduled for presentation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on September 3, 2026, as part of a seven-week work programme running from July 27 to September 14. This timeline reflects the administration’s determination to move swiftly on the reform while ensuring that all necessary safeguards are built into the legislative framework before transmission to the National Assembly.

Gbajabiamila stressed that even after the constitutional amendment and National Policing Bill become law, state police will not automatically be established across all 36 states, as each state that chooses to establish a service will still need its own enabling law, institutions, and funding. It must also meet the national conditions for operation before its officers can begin policing, ensuring that no state rushes into establishing a police force without the necessary capacity and oversight mechanisms in place. States that are not ready or willing to establish their own police services would continue to be served by the Nigeria Police Force, guaranteeing that no citizen is left without policing coverage during the transitional period.

Gbajabiamila said the reform aims to build a policing system that is “closer, faster and better informed by local conditions,” with officers familiar with a community’s language, geography, and crime patterns better positioned to gather intelligence and respond effectively to local security challenges. However, he maintained that the new system must not sacrifice citizens’ rights, cautioning that “proximity does not guarantee justice.” He insisted that the law must protect citizens regardless of who holds office, and that it must protect opposition parties, peaceful protesters, journalists, and minority communities from potential abuses of power. The consultation will complement, rather than replace, the role of the National Assembly, which retains the power to scrutinise, amend, reject, or pass the Bill when transmitted. As the 5 PM deadline approaches, Nigerians are being reminded that their voices remain essential in shaping a reform that could redefine the relationship between citizens and the security apparatus for generations to come.

State Police Bill: Public Submissions Close Today as Nigeria Nears Historic Policing Reform