Big move from Aso Rock – the Federal Government is finally asking YOU to have a say on state police, and you’ve got just two weeks to do it.

Right, so here’s what’s happening.

The Federal Government has officially thrown open a two-week public consultation for the new draft National Policing Bill, with a plan to place the finished draft on President Bola Tinubu’s table by September. It’s a huge step towards actually making state police a reality in Nigeria.

The update came from the President’s Chief of Staff and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Monday after the group met at the State House in Abuja.

According to Gbajabiamila, the Working Group is doing a deep dive – reviewing the Police Act 2020, the Police Service Commission framework, police regulations and every other relevant law – to build a proper, workable legal and operational framework for state policing.

You’ll recall President Tinubu inaugurated the Working Group in early July and tasked them with getting this legal framework ready.

So, what’s the timeline saying?

As reported by cbinews.tv, the Working Group has adopted a tight seven-week work programme running from July 27 to September 14, 2026.

Here’s the breakdown:

Next two weeks: Nigerians – that’s citizens, professionals, civil society, security agencies, state and local governments, academics, everyone – can submit memoranda and policy proposals.

September 3: The draft Executive Bill will be presented to President Tinubu.

After that: Wider national consultations before final approval and transmission to the National Assembly.

The Presidency says the whole point of the Bill is to create a modern policing framework that allows for a dual-policing structure – federal and state – while still keeping national standards and accountability intact.

Gbajabiamila was very clear on this: “The new National Policing Bill will set out requirements for recruitment, training, oversight, funding, and transition arrangements to ensure credible, effective, and accountable policing nationwide.”

And for states that want to jump on it quickly? There are strict rules. As cited by cbinews.tv, Gbajabiamila noted: “A proposed State Police Service must demonstrate that it has credible arrangements for recruitment, vetting, training, pay, pensions, equipment, custody, complaints, discipline, data, firearms control, independent oversight and financial sustainability before it begins policing.”

Why the rush?

It’s not hard to see why. Insecurity is biting hard. According to SBM Intelligence, over 5,091 deaths from violence involving terrorists, bandits and armed groups were recorded in Q2 2026 alone, with Borno, Zamfara, Yobe and Katsina worst hit.

This push has been building. On June 24, the Senate passed a bill to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow for state police, and in July, the House of Representatives followed suit with its own Constitution Alteration Bill.

Supporters say decentralised policing will mean better local intelligence, proper community policing, and faster response times. Critics, however, worry governors could turn state police into a political weapon.

To that, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, has assured that the Bill is designed to protect lives and property and will have safeguards to prevent political persecution.

So, if you have an idea about how state police should work, now is the time to speak up. The portal is open.

Source: cbinews.tv

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