The Presidency has announced that public submissions on the proposed National Policing Bill will close by 5 pm on Thursday, August 13, 2026.

Nigerians have been asked to send views on the plan to establish state police.

Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this on Wednesday. He said the consultation will incorporate experiences and professional expertise of Nigerians into the Bill.

He said submissions will be useful on political interference, oversight, police misconduct and intelligence sharing between federal and state police.

He added that the consultation will not replace the role of the National Assembly, which retains power to scrutinise, amend or pass the Bill.

“For too long, the debate has been framed as a choice between effective local policing and protection from political abuse. Nigeria needs both. We can bring policing closer to the people while building strong national standards, independent oversight and firm safeguards for every citizen. The time to fix policing in Nigeria is now, and we must see the work through,” Gbajabiamila said.

How Bill Plans To Stop Abuse By Governors

Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, said state police could bring policing closer to communities and improve response to local crime. However, he said proximity to state governments raises genuine concerns about abuse.

“But proximity does not guarantee justice. The concern that governors might use state police against political opponents, minority communities or dissenting voices is serious and must be answered in the design of the law,” he said.

He said the proposed framework must ensure state police have lawful authority within their states but remain subject to the constitution, human rights and rule of law.

He said officers must be properly recruited, trained, equipped and supervised, while citizens must have access to credible complaint channels.

“The law must protect citizens regardless of who holds office. It must protect opposition parties, peaceful protesters, journalists and minority communities. It must make unlawful orders easier to resist, misconduct easier to investigate and political interference harder to hide,” he said.

The law must protect opposition parties, journalists, protesters and minority groups from misuse.

What Happens Before State Police Can Start

Gbajabiamila explained that Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution provides for only one police force, the Nigeria Police Force. Therefore, a constitutional amendment is needed.

He said both chambers of the National Assembly have approved proposed changes for a Federal Police Service and State Police Services, but work is not complete. The amendment must go to state Houses of Assembly and get approval from at least 24 of 36 states before presidential assent.

He added that the Working Group is preparing the National Policing Bill alongside the amendment. The Bill will set national standards for recruitment, vetting, training, pay, pensions, equipment, use of force, discipline, oversight and intelligence sharing.

He said state police will not start automatically.

“Each state that chooses to establish a service will still need its own enabling law, institutions and funding. It must also meet the national conditions for operation before its officers can begin policing,” he said.

A state not ready will continue to be served by the Nigeria Police Force.