Nigeria Sets Deadline for Views on Proposed State Police

(Femi Gbajabiamila. Photo: Arise News)

Public submissions on the proposed National Policing Bill will close at 5 pm on Thursday, August 13, 2026.

Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, disclosed this on Wednesday, urging Nigerians to submit views on the planned establishment of state police.

The consultation is designed to incorporate experiences and professional expertise into proposed legislation, with particular focus on addressing concerns over political interference, oversight, police misconduct and intelligence-sharing between federal and state services.

Gbajabiamila urged contributions on protecting police services from political interference, investigating serious misconduct and enabling federal-state intelligence sharing.

The proposed state police system must contain strong safeguards preventing governors from deploying the force against political opponents, protesters, journalists, minority communities and other citizens.

State police could bring policing closer to communities and improve responses to local security challenges, yet proximity to state governments raises legitimate concerns about political interference and abuse of power.

Police services must have lawful authority within jurisdictions while remaining subject to the constitution, human rights and rule of law.

The proposed framework should ensure proper recruitment, training, equipment and supervision of officers, with citizens having access to credible complaints and oversight mechanisms.

Reforms aim to create policing that is "closer, faster and better informed by local conditions," with officers familiar with community language, geography and crime patterns better positioned to gather intelligence and respond to threats.

However, reforms must protect citizens from abuse regardless of political affiliation, protecting opposition parties, peaceful protesters, journalists and minority communities whilst making unlawful orders easier to resist, misconduct easier to investigate and political interference harder to hide.

Constitutional amendment is necessary before state police can be established. Both chambers of the National Assembly approved proposed constitutional changes providing for a Federal Police Service and State Police Services, but the process remains incomplete.

The National Assembly must complete remaining stages and transmit the amendment to state legislatures, requiring approval by at least 24 of 36 state legislatures before proceeding to the President for assent.

The Presidential Working Group is preparing the National Policing Bill alongside constitutional amendments.

The Bill will establish national standards for recruitment, vetting, training, remuneration, pensions, equipment and professional conduct, alongside rules on force use, complaints, discipline, independent oversight, intelligence sharing and cooperation between services.

State police will not automatically be established across the country after constitutional amendment and the Bill become law; each state choosing to establish a service requires its own enabling law, institutions and funding whilst meeting national operation conditions.

States unable to establish police services will continue being served by the Nigeria Police Force.