From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill has submitted the draft National Policing Bill, 2026, and 29 consequential amendment bills to the Federal Ministry of Justice for legislative drafting review and validation.
The submission, made on October 19, is a major step towards establishing a proposed dual policing structure comprising the Federal Police Service and State Police Services.
Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
He said the Ministry of Justice would review the draft bills to ensure compliance with legislative drafting standards and conventions, as well as prevent conflicts with existing laws.
According to him, the ministry is expected to return the validated bills to the working group on or before Friday, October 30, for final consideration.
Gbajabiamila said the working group would subsequently present the bills to President Bola Tinubu, bringing its assignment to a close.
“The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill has completed the drafting stage of its assignment and has formally submitted the draft National Policing Bill (2026), together with twenty-nine (29) consequential amendment bills, to the Federal Ministry of Justice for legislative drafting review and validation,” he said.
He added that the submission was made to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in line with the working group’s work plan.
The proposed legislation is intended to provide the constitutional and legislative framework for a policing system in which federal and state police services would operate within the country’s legal framework.
Gbajabiamila said the working group remained committed to a rigorous and transparent process that would produce a comprehensive legislative proposal for the President’s consideration and subsequent transmission to the National Assembly.
He, however, noted that work on the policing legislation was proceeding alongside the ongoing consideration of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, by the State Houses of Assembly.
The consideration of the constitutional amendment by the state legislatures must be completed before the bill can be transmitted to the National Assembly, the statement said.