The Presidency has announced that the proposed executive bill on the establishment of state police will be presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for review on September 3, 2026, marking a significant step towards creating a legal framework for state policing in Nigeria.
Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this on Monday after the committee’s inaugural meeting at the State House in Abuja.
According to Gbajabiamila, the committee has already commenced administrative and technical work on the proposed legislation under a seven-week timetable running from July 27 to September 14, 2026.
He explained that once President Tinubu reviews and approves the draft executive bill, it will undergo nationwide public consultation before being revised and transmitted to the National Assembly for legislative consideration.
“The approved work programme is a seven-week, milestone-driven exercise. The resulting Executive Bill package is scheduled for presentation to the President on September 3.
Subject to his approval, a national consultation on the completed draft will follow before it is sent to the National Assembly,” Gbajabiamila said.
He stressed that despite the tight timeline, the committee would ensure the process is thorough, transparent and inclusive, with adequate technical input and public participation.
On the financial implications of establishing state police, Gbajabiamila said it was premature to estimate the cost, noting that any projection must be based on comprehensive research rather than speculation.
“There is no cost to securing lives and property. The eventual cost will be evidence-based and determined on a state-by-state basis because each state has unique security needs, infrastructure and personnel requirements,” he stated.
Gbajabiamila also announced that Nigerians would be invited to contribute to the drafting process through the submission of memoranda via a dedicated online platform.
He said the portal would remain open for about ten days, with the possibility of an extension if necessary.
He encouraged citizens from all walks of life to participate, emphasizing that the success of state policing depends on public ownership and broad-based engagement.
The proposed state police framework is expected to address key issues such as recruitment, command structure, personnel management, infrastructure, funding and the varying security needs of Nigeria’s 36 states.
The move follows President Tinubu’s inauguration of the Presidential Working Group in July to develop the legal architecture required for the implementation of state policing, a long-debated reform aimed at strengthening grassroots security and improving responses to local security challenges.
Tags: State Police, Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, National Assembly, Nigeria Security, Presidency
