Tinubu Inaugurates Gbajabiamila-led Working Group for Implementation of State Police Nationwide

President Bola Tinubu has launched a high-level Presidential Working Group tasked with developing a comprehensive legal framework for the nationwide implementation of state police. The seven-member panel, chaired by the President's Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, will draft an "implementation-ready" National Policing Bill. This initiative follows the National Assembly's recent passage of a constitutional alteration bill that establishes the framework for a dual policing structure, including federal and state police services.

“

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.

Tinubu emphasized that while the constitutional amendment creates the structural basis for state police, the National Policing Bill is crucial for its operationalization. He outlined key areas the bill must address, including minimum policing standards, certification of state readiness, federal-state coordination mechanisms, accountability measures, human rights safeguards, and fiscal conditions. The President stressed the importance of avoiding delays by commencing this assignment even before the constitutional amendment process is fully concluded.

“

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.

Representing the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State pledged the governors' full support for the reform's swift implementation. He indicated that state governors would expedite the bill's passage through their respective Houses of Assembly. Abiodun highlighted that the proposed state police system directly responds to the long-standing public demand for community-based policing, effectively moving policing from the exclusive legislative list.

“

The Working Group has been constituted to produce a technically robust, implementation-ready draft National Policing Bill for transmission to the National Assembly.

The working group's members include the Attorney-General of the Federation, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the National Security Adviser, and the Inspector-General of Police. A secretariat will provide administrative support. The group's primary objective is to produce a technically sound draft bill for transmission to the National Assembly, ensuring a smooth transition to a decentralized policing system.

“

We must not wait until the constitutional process is concluded before beginning this important assignment.