Tinubu Set to Review Landmark Policing Reform Bill on September 3

In a significant move towards policing reform, President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to review the Executive National Policing Bill on September 3, 2026. This development comes as the Presidency launches a public information portal, nationalpolicingbill.com, where Nigerians can contribute to the legislation by submitting memoranda and position papers. The portal is part of a broader effort to engage the public in the policymaking process. According to Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, the approved work programme is a seven-week exercise that commenced on July 27, 2026. The exercise aims to produce a comprehensive bill package, including schedules, an explanatory memorandum, and a legal audit, among other components. Gbajabiamila emphasized that the central task is to design a lawful, professional, and sustainable federal and state policing system that prioritizes national standards, national security, and the rights of every Nigerian. He also clarified that the constitutional amendment already passed by the National Assembly is distinct from the operational legislation being developed by the Working Group. The former Speaker of the House of Representatives stressed that state policing must not become an instrument of political control, and that federal intervention must be exceptional, evidence-based, and reviewable. The public information portal, nationalpolicingbill.com, will be available for approximately two weeks, with a possible extension, allowing Nigerians to contribute to the policymaking process. When asked about the estimated cost of the new policing system, Gbajabiamila declined to provide a figure, stating that the cost will be evidence-based and determined through thorough research.