By Our Reporter,  Abuja

The Federal Government has announced a seven-week roadmap to develop a National Policing Bill and invited Nigerians to submit memoranda as part of efforts to establish a legal framework for state policing.

The announcement was made on Monday by the Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, after the group’s meeting at the State House, Abuja.

According to Gbajabiamila, the two-week call for memoranda will run immediately, allowing citizens, civil society, security agencies, state and local governments, academics, and other stakeholders to submit proposals.

The submissions will be reviewed and incorporated into a draft bill, which will undergo further national consultation before being sent to the National Assembly.

The Working Group said its work programme will run from July 27 to September 14, 2026.

A draft Executive Bill is scheduled for presentation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on September 3, 2026, after which national consultations will be held before final approval.

The group is reviewing the Police Act 2020, the Police Service Commission framework, police regulations and other relevant laws to support a modern policing system.

The proposed law will set national minimum standards, define state readiness and certification requirements, clarify jurisdictional responsibilities, provide for independent oversight, uphold human rights, and guarantee sustainable funding. It will also outline an orderly transition to a dual-policing structure.

“A proposed State Police Service must demonstrate that it has credible arrangements for recruitment, vetting, training, pay, pensions, equipment, custody, complaints, discipline, data, firearms control, independent oversight and financial sustainability before it begins policing,” Gbajabiamila said.

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, representing the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, described state police as a landmark reform and one of the defining initiatives of the Tinubu administration.

He dismissed concerns of federal overreach, saying the bill is meant to provide an operational framework, not centralise control.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, said the bill is designed to guarantee security of lives and property while ensuring state police is not used for political persecution.

He added that states not ready to establish their own police will continue to rely on federal police until they meet the required standards.

Other participants at the meeting included the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu; NBA President, Afam Osigwe; Chairman of the Policy Advisory Committee, Justice Abdullahi Liman (rtd); and representatives of the National Security Adviser.

The new National Policing Bill is expected to set out requirements for recruitment, training, oversight, funding, and transition arrangements to ensure credible and accountable policing nationwide.