RismadarVoice Reporters
October 20, 2026
The Federal Government of Nigeria has taken another step towards establishing state police in Nigeria following the submission of the draft National Policing Bill, 2026, and 29 consequential amendment bills to the Federal Ministry of Justice for legal review.
The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill announced the development on Tuesday, October 20, confirming that it had completed the drafting stage of its assignment.
In a statement signed by the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and Chairman of the Working Group, Femi Gbajabiamila, the committee disclosed that the documents were submitted to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on Monday, October 19.
According to the statement, the Ministry of Justice will examine the proposed legislation to ensure compliance with established legislative drafting standards and prevent conflicts with existing Nigerian laws.
The ministry is expected to return the reviewed and validated documents to the Working Group on or before October 30, 2026.
Following the review, the committee will undertake a final examination of the proposed legislation before presenting it to President Tinubu for consideration and subsequent transmission to the National Assembly.
Gbajabiamila explained that the National Policing Bill was designed to provide the legal and institutional framework for a decentralised policing system comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.
The proposed arrangement would allow states to establish their own police services within a nationally regulated framework, subject to constitutional requirements and safeguards against abuse.
The initiative forms part of the Federal Government’s efforts to address security challenges, including kidnapping, banditry, violent crime and other threats affecting communities across the country.
The Working Group maintained that the drafting process was being conducted with the necessary technical scrutiny to ensure that the legislation could support an effective and accountable policing structure.
Meanwhile, the proposed Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, which seeks to amend Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution, remains under consideration by state Houses of Assembly.
The constitutional amendment proposes replacing the existing exclusive federal policing arrangement with provisions recognising both federal and state police services.
The National Assembly transmitted the amendment to the 36 state legislatures on September 16, following its passage by both chambers.
Under Section 9 of the Constitution, the amendment requires approval from at least 24 state Houses of Assembly before the remaining constitutional procedures can be completed.
The Presidential Working Group was inaugurated by Tinubu on July 7, 2026, and began its detailed deliberations in August.
Its mandate includes developing an operational framework covering recruitment standards, funding, federal-state coordination, accountability, human rights protections and measures against political interference.
The latest submission marks progress in the legislative preparations, although the establishment of state police remains dependent on the completion of the constitutional amendment process and the enactment of the necessary operational laws.
Nigeria’s existing federal police structure will remain in place until the proposed reforms receive the required legal approvals.
