President Bola Tinubu is expected to receive the Executive National Policing Bill for consideration on September 3, 2026, as the Federal Government moves closer to implementing sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s policing system.
The Presidency also launched a public engagement portal, nationalpolicingbill.com, allowing Nigerians to submit memoranda and recommendations that will help shape the proposed legislation before it is forwarded to the National Assembly.
The announcement was made on Monday by the President’s Chief of Staff and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, after a meeting of the committee at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Gbajabiamila explained that the reform process follows a seven-week implementation timetable running from July 27 to September 14, 2026.
“The resulting Executive Bill package is scheduled for presentation to the President on the 3rd of September.
“Subject to his approval, and I think we have tweaked that so the national consultation will come before the President’s final approval, after which the text and supporting materials will be revised and prepared for formal transmission to the National Assembly,” he said.
He noted that the final legislative package would include supporting documents such as an explanatory memorandum, legal audit, clause-by-clause analysis, implementation framework, fiscal assessment, validation report, risk register and other technical materials.
Gbajabiamila described the proposed legislation as one of the country’s most significant policing reforms, saying it is designed to establish a professional, accountable and sustainable policing structure at both the federal and state levels.
“This is a monumental reform that Nigerians have debated for many years.
“Our central task now is to design a lawful, professional and sustainable federal and state policing system that places greater capability closer to the people while preserving national standards, national security and the rights of every Nigerian.”
He clarified that although both chambers of the National Assembly have passed constitutional amendments on state policing, the process is not yet complete because approval from the required number of State Houses of Assembly is still pending.
“The Senate approved the State Police constitutional proposal on June 24, 2026, and the House of Representatives passed the Executive State Police Bill on 23 July 2026.
“The constitutional amendment is, however, not yet in force. It must obtain the approval required from the State Houses of Assembly as prescribed under the Constitution.
“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.”
Gbajabiamila stressed that the proposed state policing system would not permit political interference or abuse of power.
“State Police cannot mean 36 state militias, just as national standards cannot become a disguised method of re-centralising day-to-day State policing.
“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.
“Federal intervention must remain exceptional, evidence-based, proportionate, time-limited and reviewable.”
He encouraged Nigerians to participate in the legislative process through the newly launched online portal, saying public submissions would be accepted for about two weeks, with room for an extension if necessary.
“There will be a website which has gone live already, for members of the public to learn about the stages of what we’re doing, and to actually contribute and send their contributions through that platform.
“So the public is included, no matter your station in life. The website is nationalpolicingbill.com, which will metamorphose hopefully in the next couple of days to .gov.ng,” he said.
Speaking on the cost of implementing the new policing framework, Gbajabiamila said it was too early to provide estimates, noting that funding requirements would be determined through detailed research and would differ from one state to another.
“There is no cost that will be too much to secure lives and property.
“Giving you a cost now will be pulling something out of thin air.
“The cost will be evidence-based, based on thorough research, and on a state-by-state basis, because one state differs from the other in terms of personnel, infrastructure and local needs. It’s a good question, but it’s premature.”
He also maintained that national policing standards are intended to guarantee minimum operational benchmarks across the country while allowing individual states to exceed those standards where they have the capacity.
