Presidential Working Group Begins Drafting Of National Policing Bill

The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill has commenced the first drafting sprint for the proposed legislation, as it remains on track to deliver on the milestones outlined in its seven-week workplan.

The development was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila.

According to the statement, the Working Group has moved from its initial organisational phase to substantive policy and legislative work, with legal drafters nominated by the Federal Ministry of Justice commencing work on the proposed Bill.

The Policy Advisory Committee (PAC), chaired by Justice Mohammed Abdullahi Liman, JCA (rtd.), has also been convened and completed the first stage of its oversight mandate.

The committee provided the policy direction required to guide the legislative drafting process, the statement said.

Meanwhile, the national consultation process being conducted alongside the drafting exercise has recorded substantial engagement from institutions, professional bodies, civil society organisations, security stakeholders, experts and members of the public.

The Working Group said memoranda and position papers received through the consultation process were being systematically reviewed and analysed to ensure that relevant recommendations and perspectives were considered as work on the Bill progresses.

The extended window for the submission of memoranda and position papers closes at 5:00 p.m. (WAT) on Friday, August 21, 2026.

The Working Group therefore reminded interested institutions, organisations, professionals and members of the public who are yet to make submissions that the extended submission window closes at the stated time.

The extension had been granted to provide stakeholders with additional opportunity to contribute to the process.

As the consultation window closes, the Working Group said it would intensify its focus on the next phase of the drafting process while sustaining the pace established during the opening weeks of its seven-week assignment.

It expressed appreciation to institutions, organisations, professionals, experts and members of the public who had submitted memoranda and position papers and participated in the national consultation exercise.

According to the statement, the inputs received constitute an important part of the process of developing a robust legislative framework capable of responding to Nigeria’s contemporary policing and internal security requirements.

The proposed National Policing Bill is being developed to provide the constitutional and legislative framework for a dual policing structure comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.

The framework is also expected to incorporate appropriate institutional safeguards, accountability mechanisms and oversight arrangements.

The Working Group said it remained committed to a rigorous, inclusive and time-bound process that would produce a comprehensive legislative proposal for consideration by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and subsequent transmission to the National Assembly.