Gbaja: State Police Bill to Reach Tinubu for Review by September 3

The Presidency has announced a seven-week timeline for completing the proposed state police legislation, with the executive bill expected to be submitted to President Bola Tinubu for review on September 3, 2026.

The announcement was made on Monday by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, following the committee’s inaugural meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Gbajabiamila explained that the committee had approved a detailed work schedule covering the period from July 27 to September 14, 2026, to produce the legal framework required for the implementation of state policing across Nigeria.

According to him, administrative and technical work on the proposed legislation has already commenced, with the executive bill scheduled for presentation to the President by September 3.

He stated that once President Tinubu reviews and approves the draft, the government will begin a nationwide consultation before transmitting the revised bill to the National Assembly for legislative consideration.

“The approved work programme is a seven-week, milestone-driven exercise running from July 27 to September 14, 2026,” Gbajabiamila said.

He stressed that although the timeline is ambitious, the drafting process would not compromise quality or due process.

Addressing concerns over the financial implications of establishing state police, Gbajabiamila said it was too early to provide cost estimates, noting that any projections would be based on comprehensive research rather than speculation.

He explained that implementation costs would vary from state to state, depending on factors such as personnel strength, infrastructure, operational architecture and local security requirements.

Gbajabiamila also announced that Nigerians would have the opportunity to participate in the drafting process by submitting memoranda through the dedicated portal, nationalpolicingbill.com, over an initial period of ten days, with the possibility of an extension if necessary.

He said public participation was essential because the proposed state police system is intended to strengthen community ownership of security and improve the protection of lives and property.

The Federal Government inaugurated the Presidential Committee on the National Policing Bill in July to develop the legal and operational framework for state policing, a long-debated reform aimed at addressing Nigeria’s growing security challenges through a decentralised policing structure.