The Federal Government has commenced the process of developing a National Policing Bill to provide the legal and operational framework for the implementation of state police across Nigeria.
Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this while briefing journalists on Monday in Abuja.
He said the government had adopted a seven-week, milestone-driven programme to produce comprehensive legislation that would guide Nigeria’s transition to a dual federal and state policing system.
Gbajabiamila explained that although the National Assembly had made significant progress on the constitutional amendment establishing state police, no state police service currently exists in the country.
According to him, the Nigerian Police Force remains the only constitutionally recognised policing institution until the constitutional amendment secures the required approval from state Houses of Assembly and is backed by implementing legislation.
“The constitutional amendment creates the authority and broad architecture for federal and state policing, but it does not by itself provide the complete operating framework,” he said.
The presidential aide noted that the Senate approved the constitutional proposal on June 24, 2026, while the House of Representatives passed the Executive State Police Bill on July 23, 2026.
He added that the proposed National Policing Bill would establish the legal, administrative and operational guidelines needed for the effective implementation of state police after the constitutional process is completed.
