President Tinubu Inaugurates Gbajabiamila-Led Panel for State Police Law

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday established a Presidential Working Group dedicated to the National Policing Bill, aimed at crafting the necessary legal framework for the nationwide implementation of state police. The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, the President's Chief of Staff, represented him during the inauguration ceremony held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Gbajabiamila will chair this crucial committee, with key members including the Attorney-General of the Federation, the National Security Adviser, and the Inspector-General of Police. Other notable members comprise the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Chairman of the NGF Committee on State Police, and a dedicated Secretariat.

This initiative follows the recent passage by the Senate of the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, which proposes a policing system with both a Federal Police Service and 36 distinct State Police Services. President Tinubu clarified that while the constitutional amendment lays the groundwork for state policing, the National Policing Bill is essential for its practical operation. He stated, “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 outlined that the proposed legislation would address critical aspects such as policing standards, state preparedness, coordination between federal and state authorities, accountability measures, human rights safeguards, and the transition of personnel. He specifically noted, “The proposed National Policing Bill will include provisions on minimum policing standards, state readiness certification, federal-state coordination, accountability, human rights safeguards and fiscal conditions.” Tinubu emphasized that the committee is tasked with producing an "implementation-ready draft bill" immediately after the constitutional amendment process is complete. He added, “The Working Group has been constituted to produce a technically robust, implementation-ready draft National Policing Bill for transmission to the National Assembly.” The committee will also recommend other legal instruments required for the smooth operation of the dual policing system, with Tinubu stressing, “We must not wait until the constitutional process is concluded before beginning this important assignment.”

Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Attorney-General of the Federation, lauded the timely nature of the initiative, considering Nigeria's prevailing security challenges. He remarked, “There is no denying the fact that we are in a critical moment security-wise, and all hands must be on deck.” Fagbemi appealed to state governors to expedite the ratification of the constitutional amendment within their respective state assemblies, stating, “I appeal to the governors to do their utmost to ensure the early passage of the constitutional amendment because this is a shared responsibility.”

Mr. Afam Osigwe (SAN), President of the Nigerian Bar Association, reiterated the NBA's backing for the state police concept. He commented, “Nigeria can hardly be effectively policed by one national police. We fully support the constitutional amendment providing for state police.” However, Osigwe underscored the necessity for robust legal safeguards to prevent potential misuse of state police powers. He warned, “We must ensure we do not create a monster. The right legal framework must guarantee accountability and prevent oppression.” He committed the NBA's support to the committee in developing legislation that enhances security while simultaneously safeguarding citizens' rights.

Representing the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State pledged the governors’ commitment to the swift implementation of this reform. He detailed the plan for all 36 state governors to accelerate the bill's passage once it reaches their respective Houses of Assembly, aiming for unanimous approval. “The plan is that when the bill gets to our various Houses of Assembly, we will all pass it on the same day,” Abiodun stated. The governor described the proposed state police as a direct response to Nigerians' long-standing calls for community-based policing, asserting, “This bill has answered the cries of Nigerians about cascading policing and removing it from the Exclusive Legislative List.” He further highlighted that the initiative validates the efficacy of regional security outfits like Amotekun in the South-West, noting, “This bill has validated the effectiveness of community policing as demonstrated by Amotekun in the South-West.” Abiodun projected that state police would significantly boost the number of security personnel nationwide, estimating, “If each state deploys about 6,000 personnel, we will add nearly 200,000 officers to complement the existing federal police.” He concluded by commending President Tinubu's foresight in initiating implementation plans even before the constitutional amendment process is finalized, stating, “This inauguration demonstrates the proactiveness of the Executive in preparing for effective implementation.”