Tinubu Moves To Fast-Track State Police Implementation With National Policing Bill Working Group.

 

President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated a Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, declaring that the introduction of state police can no longer be delayed and directing the committee to develop the legal framework needed to establish the new policing structure across Nigeria.The working group was inaugurated at the Presidential Villa in Abuja by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, who represented the President. Members include Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), President of the Nigerian Bar Association Afam Osigwe (SAN), Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, who chairs the NGF Committee on State Police.

A secretariat has also been established to provide administrative support for the committee’s work.

The inauguration follows the National Assembly’s passage of the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, which proposes a dual policing arrangement consisting of the Federal Police Service and 36 State Police Services.

Tinubu said work on the legal framework must begin immediately, stressing that the government should not wait for the completion of the constitutional amendment process before preparing for implementation.

“We must not wait until the constitutional process is concluded before beginning this important assignment,” the President said.

He explained that while the constitutional amendment provides the foundation for state policing, the proposed National Policing Bill would establish the practical systems required to make it operational.

“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 legislation will address critical areas including minimum policing standards, state readiness certification, coordination between federal and state authorities, accountability measures, human rights protections and funding requirements.

Tinubu said the committee’s responsibility is to produce a technically sound and implementation-ready draft bill that can be submitted to the National Assembly once the constitutional amendment process is completed.

Governors Back State Police Reform

Speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun pledged the commitment of state governors to ensuring the speedy implementation of the reform.

Abiodun said governors would work with their respective state assemblies to accelerate the ratification process, describing state police as a response to long-standing calls for more community-focused policing.

“This bill has answered the cries of Nigerians about cascading policing and removing it from the Exclusive Legislative List,” he said.

The governor added that the proposed structure could significantly expand Nigeria’s security capacity by building on existing regional security initiatives such as Amotekun.

“If each state deploys about 6,000 personnel, we will add nearly 200,000 officers to complement the existing federal police,” he said.

He also praised the President’s decision to begin preparations before the constitutional amendment process is finalised, describing it as a proactive step towards effective implementation.

Legal and Security Experts Support Reform

Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi said the initiative comes at a critical time, given the country’s ongoing 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.

He urged state governors to ensure the constitutional amendment receives timely approval from their state assemblies.

Nigerian Bar Association President Afam Osigwe also expressed support for the reform, arguing that Nigeria’s current centralised policing system is insufficient for the country’s security needs.

“Nigeria can hardly be effectively policed by one national police. We fully support the constitutional amendment providing for state police,” Osigwe said.

However, he emphasised the importance of strong legal safeguards to prevent misuse of state police powers.

Lawmakers Highlight Safeguards Against Abuse

Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau defended the proposed legislation, saying it includes constitutional protections aimed at preventing political interference and abuse by governors or other authorities.

He said the bill was developed after years of consultations involving the Presidency, National Assembly, security agencies, policing experts and other stakeholders, alongside nationwide public hearings.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu similarly argued that concerns over potential abuse had been addressed through oversight mechanisms.

Kalu said Nigeria’s centralised policing model has become overstretched, particularly given the country’s population of more than 230 million people.

“No other federation of our size operates this way; from Germany to India, from Canada to Australia, the world’s great federations police locally and coordinate nationally,” he said.

He added that the proposed framework would allow states to establish their own police services while maintaining professional standards, defined jurisdictions, independent oversight and coordinated national security efforts.