President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, setting in motion the process of developing the legal framework that will operationalise the proposed state police system across Nigeria.
The inauguration, held on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, was performed on the President’s behalf by his Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, following the passage of the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, by the National Assembly.
The constitutional amendment proposes a dual policing structure comprising the Federal Police Service and 36 State Police Services.
The development was disclosed in a State House press release issued on Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Tinubu explained that while the constitutional amendment establishes the legal foundation for state policing, a comprehensive National Policing Bill is required to provide the operational framework for implementing the new system.
According to the President, the proposed legislation will contain detailed provisions on minimum policing standards, state readiness certification, coordination between federal and state policing authorities, accountability mechanisms, protection of human rights and fiscal requirements for the establishment and operation of state police services.
“The Constitution Amendment Bill establishes the framework for dual policing, but it does not operationalise it. That work is left to the National Policing Bill,” the President said, adding that the Working Group had been mandated to produce a technically sound and implementation-ready draft bill for transmission to the National Assembly immediately after the constitutional amendment process is completed.
President Tinubu stressed the need to commence the legislative drafting process ahead of the final constitutional approval to prevent unnecessary delays in implementing the reform.
“We must not wait until the constitutional process is concluded before beginning this important assignment,” he stated.
The Working Group is chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and comprises, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, the Chairman of the NGF Committee on State Police, while a secretariat will provide administrative support for the committee’s activities.
Speaking on behalf of the Governors, Dapo Abiodun assured the Federal Government of the full backing of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum towards the successful implementation of the initiative.
He disclosed that Governors were prepared to expedite legislative action in their various Houses of Assembly once the bill reaches the states for ratification.
Abiodun described the introduction of state police as a direct response to Nigerians’ longstanding demand for community-based policing, noting that it would decentralise policing responsibilities and strengthen grassroots security architecture.
He also cited the success of regional security outfits, including Amotekun, as evidence that decentralised policing could significantly improve security nationwide.
According to him, if each of the 36 states recruits approximately 6,000 personnel into their respective police services, the country would gain nearly 200,000 additional security officers to complement the existing Federal Police.
The Ogun State Governor commended President Tinubu for initiating implementation plans before the constitutional amendment process is concluded, describing the move as a demonstration of proactive governance.
Also addressing the gathering, Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, described the initiative as timely, considering the prevailing security challenges confronting the country.
He urged state governors to ensure the prompt ratification of the constitutional amendment by their respective state legislatures, emphasising that strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture requires collective commitment.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, reaffirmed the association’s support for the state police initiative, saying Nigeria’s growing security demands make decentralised policing increasingly imperative.
Osigwe, however, stressed the importance of building strong legal safeguards into the proposed legislation to prevent abuse of state police powers, ensure accountability and adequately protect the rights and freedoms of citizens.
The inauguration was attended by Attorneys-General and Commissioners for Justice from Plateau, Lagos and Ondo States, representatives of the Inspector-General of Police and the National Security Adviser, alongside other senior Government officials.
