By Kofoworola Fakeye, JKNewsMedia Reporter
ON TUESDAY, President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the Presidential Working Group (PWG) on the National Policing Bill (NPB) to prepare the legal framework for implementing state police across Nigeria.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the President, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, inaugurated the committee at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, sequel to the National Assembly’s passage of the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, which proposes a dual policing structure comprising the Federal Police Service and 36 State Police Services.
President Tinubu said that while the constitutional amendment establishes the legal basis for state police, the proposed NPB would provide the operational framework for implementing the new policing system.
“The Constitution Amendment Bill establishes the framework for dual policing, but it does not operationalise it. That work is left to the National Policing Bill,” he said.
According to the President, the proposed legislation will address critical issues required for the effective implementation of state policing, including minimum policing standards, state readiness certification, federal-state coordination, accountability mechanisms, human rights safeguards, and fiscal conditions.
“The proposed National Policing Bill will include provisions on minimum policing standards, state readiness certification, federal-state coordination, accountability, human rights safeguards and fiscal conditions,” he said.
Tinubu explained that the committee had been tasked with producing a technically robust, implementation-ready draft bill for transmission to the National Assembly immediately after the constitutional amendment process is completed.
“The Working Group has been constituted to produce a technically robust, implementation-ready draft National Policing Bill for transmission to the National Assembly,” he said.
He added that setting up the committee before the conclusion of the constitutional amendment process would prevent delays in implementation.
“We must not wait until the constitutional process is concluded before beginning this important assignment,” the President said.
In a statement issued on July 7, 2026, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Gbajabiamila would chair the committee.
Other members include the Attorney-General of the Federation, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Chairman of the NGF Committee on State Police. A secretariat will provide administrative support to the committee.
Speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun pledged the governors’ support for the speedy implementation of the reform.
He said the 36 state governors would accelerate consideration of the constitutional amendment once it is transmitted to their respective Houses of Assembly for ratification.
Abiodun described the proposed state police as a response to Nigerians’ long-standing demand for community-based policing.
“This bill has answered the cries of Nigerians about cascading policing and removing it from the Exclusive Legislative List,” he said.
He also said the initiative validates the success of regional security outfits such as Amotekun in the South-West and would significantly strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
“If each state deploys about 6,000 personnel, we will add nearly 200,000 officers to complement the existing federal police,” he said.
The governor commended President Tinubu for commencing implementation planning before the constitutional amendment process had been concluded.
“This inauguration demonstrates the proactiveness of the Executive in preparing for effective implementation,” Abiodun said.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), described the initiative as timely given the country’s prevailing security challenges.
“There is no denying the fact that we are in a critical moment security-wise, and all hands must be on deck,” he said.
Fagbemi also urged governors to facilitate the prompt ratification of the constitutional amendment by their respective state assemblies.
“I appeal to the governors to do their utmost to ensure the early passage of the constitutional amendment because this is a shared responsibility,” he said.
JKNewsMedia.com also reports that thePresident of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, reaffirmed the association’s support for the establishment of state police, arguing that Nigeria can no longer be effectively policed through a single national force.
“Nigeria can hardly be effectively policed by one national police. We fully support the constitutional amendment providing for state police,” he said.
However, Osigwe stressed the importance of strong legal safeguards to prevent abuse of state police powers.
“We must ensure we do not create a monster. The right legal framework must guarantee accountability and prevent oppression,” he said.
He pledged the NBA’s commitment to supporting the committee in producing legislation that would strengthen national security while safeguarding citizens’ rights.
Also present at the inauguration were the Attorneys-General and Commissioners for Justice of Plateau, Lagos and Ondo states, representatives of the Inspector-General of Police and the National Security Adviser, as well as other senior government officials.
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