Presidency Closes Public Submissions on State Police Bill, Emphasizes Safeguards Against Political Misuse

The Presidency has set 5:00 PM on Thursday, August 13, 2026, as the final deadline for public submissions on the proposed National Policing Bill, marking the end of public consultations regarding the planned establishment of state police services across Nigeria.

The consultation process was structured to integrate public experiences and expert recommendations into the draft legislation, particularly regarding oversight mechanisms, police conduct, and intelligence-sharing between federal and state authorities.

Speaking on the initiative, the Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, stated that local policing must be balanced with robust national standards and citizen protections.

Addressing fears surrounding potential executive abuse at the sub-national level, Gbajabiamila stressed that the legislation must incorporate strict safeguards to prevent state governors from deploying police forces against political opponents, journalists, protesters, and minority groups.

“Proximity does not guarantee justice,” Gbajabiamila noted, adding that the proposed law aims to ensure officers can resist unlawful orders while providing transparent channels for investigating police misconduct.

He assured that the public consultation process would complement, rather than bypass, the constitutional mandate of the National Assembly to scrutinize, amend, or reject the legislation once formally submitted.

Establishing state police requires a constitutional amendment, as Section 214 of the current constitution provides for a single centralized police force. While both chambers of the National Assembly have approved draft constitutional changes to allow for dual policing structures, the legislative process remains incomplete. The proposed amendments must still be transmitted to and approved by at least 24 of the 36 State Houses of Assembly before being submitted for presidential assent.

Alongside the constitutional amendment process, the Presidential Working Group is finalizing the National Policing Bill. The bill sets out nationwide standards governing:

Operations & Governance: Uniform guidelines on recruitment, vetting, training, remuneration, equipment, and rules on the use of force.

Accountability: Independent oversight bodies, standardized complaint procedures, and clear disciplinary protocols.

Inter-Agency Cooperation: Structured rules for intelligence sharing and coordination between federal and state police forces.

The establishment of state police will not be mandatory or automatic across all states upon passage of the bill. Each state government seeking to create its own service must enact enabling local legislation, secure independent funding, and demonstrate compliance with national operational standards before deployment. States that choose not to establish a service or are not yet prepared will continue to be served by the Nigeria Police Force.