State Police Bill To Reach Tinubu September 3 As Reform Process Advances Article:

President Bola Tinubu is expected to receive the draft National Policing Bill on September 3, 2026, as the Federal Government moves forward with plans to establish a legal and operational framework for state policing in Nigeria.

The Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this after the committee’s inaugural meeting at the State House in Abuja.

According to him, the working group is implementing a seven-week programme running from July 27 to September 14, 2026, with the draft bill scheduled for submission to the President before a nationwide consultation and eventual transmission to the National Assembly, subject to presidential approval.

Gbajabiamila said the proposed legislative package will go beyond the bill itself, incorporating legal analyses, implementation guidelines, fiscal assessments, a state readiness framework, risk management plans, and other supporting documents to ensure the reforms can be effectively implemented.

He explained that the initiative is designed to establish a workable dual policing system in which federal and state police services operate within a clearly defined legal framework.

The Chief of Staff also announced that Nigerians will be able to contribute to the drafting process by submitting memoranda through a dedicated public engagement website, with submissions expected over an initial 10-day period.

On funding, Gbajabiamila said the cost of establishing state police would be determined through detailed research and assessments of each state’s capacity rather than estimates. He added that any state not yet ready to establish its own police service would continue to rely on the Nigeria Police Force until it meets the required standards.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said the proposed legislation would establish minimum national standards to ensure every Nigerian enjoys the same level of security and protection, regardless of where they live or which policing authority is responsible. He also stressed the need to prevent state police from becoming tools for political intimidation or oppression.

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun said the bill would address key issues such as funding, command structure, jurisdiction, and the relationship between federal and state police. He added that the Federal Government is considering financial support to assist states with the initial costs of establishing their police services.

The proposed reforms are part of the Tinubu administration’s broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture through a decentralized policing system that aligns with the country’s federal structure.