Presidential panel submits draft National Policing Bill to Justice Ministry for review

A presidential working group in Nigeria has formally handed over a draft National Policing Bill to the Federal Ministry of Justice for legal review. The submission occurred on October 19, 2026, directed at the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. Alongside the main bill, the panel delivered twenty-nine consequential amendment bills. This action marks the completion of the drafting phase for the initiative. The Ministry of Justice is tasked with validating the documents to ensure they align with legislative drafting standards and do not contradict current statutes. Officials expect the ministry to return the validated drafts to the working group by Friday, October 30. Upon receipt, the panel will conduct a final assessment before presenting the package to President Bola Tinubu. This step will conclude the group's specific mandate regarding the legislation. Femi Gbajabiamila, who serves as Chief of Staff to the President, chairs the working group. A statement dated October 20 confirmed the submission was made in accordance with the group's established work plan. The panel emphasized its commitment to a transparent process aimed at delivering a comprehensive legislative proposal for the President's consideration. Following presidential approval, the bills would be transmitted to the National Assembly. The proposed legislation aims to create a constitutional and legislative framework for a dual policing structure in Nigeria. This system would comprise both a Federal Police Service and separate State Police Services. The federal drafting process is currently running parallel to activities in state legislatures. Various State Houses of Assembly are considering the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026. This state-level constitutional amendment must be finalized before the national policing bill can proceed to the National Assembly. Recent reports indicate that thirteen state assemblies have already approved their respective versions of the state police bill. These approvals are part of a broader effort to meet a required threshold of twenty-four states. Among the states that have passed the bill are Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Delta, Taraba, Cross River, Plateau, and Enugu. Additionally, Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, and Zamfara have transmitted their approvals to the National Assembly. These transmissions occur ahead of a thirty-day deadline associated with the legislative process. The coordination between the federal panel and state legislatures highlights the complex procedural steps required to implement the new policing architecture.