Nigeria sets August 13 deadline for public submissions on state police bill

The Presidency has set 5 pm on August 13, 2026, as the deadline for Nigerians to submit views on the proposed National Policing Bill and plans for state police. Femi Gbajabiamila said the consultation will focus on preventing political interference, police abuse and weak oversight. State police remains a proposal and still requires constitutional and legislative approval before any state can establish its own police service.

The Presidency has announced that public submissions on Nigeria’s proposed National Policing Bill will close at 5 pm on Thursday, August 13, 2026, as the government seeks Nigerians’ views on plans to establish state police services.
Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the consultation was designed to bring citizens’ experiences and professional expertise into the proposed legislation.
He said public input would help address major concerns surrounding political interference, police misconduct, oversight and intelligence-sharing between federal and state police services.

STATE POLICE REMAINS A PROPOSAL

Gbajabiamila stressed that state police has not yet been established and that several constitutional and legislative steps must still be completed.
Section 214 of Nigeria’s Constitution currently provides for the Nigeria Police Force as the country’s police service.
He said both chambers of the National Assembly had approved proposed constitutional amendments providing for Federal Police Services and State Police Services.
However, the amendment process is not complete.
The proposed changes must still be transmitted to the state Houses of Assembly, where at least 24 of the 36 states must approve the amendments before they can proceed to the President for assent.

CONCERNS OVER GOVERNORS’ CONTROL

One of the biggest issues surrounding state police is the possibility of political abuse.
Gbajabiamila acknowledged concerns that governors could potentially use state police against political opponents, protesters, journalists, minority communities or other citizens.
He said the proposed law must therefore contain safeguards that make political interference difficult and ensure that police officers remain subject to the Constitution, human rights and the rule of law.
He also said unlawful orders should be easier for officers to resist, while misconduct should be easier to investigate.

GOVERNMENT SEEKS LOCAL POLICING WITHOUT POLITICAL ABUSE

The Presidency argues that state police could bring policing closer to communities and improve responses to local security challenges.
Gbajabiamila said officers who understand a community’s language, geography and crime patterns could be better positioned to gather intelligence and respond to threats.
However, he stressed that proximity to communities must be accompanied by strong national standards and independent oversight.
The proposed system is intended to create policing that is closer to communities while protecting citizens from abuse.

NATIONAL STANDARDS WOULD STILL APPLY

The proposed National Policing Bill would establish national standards covering the recruitment, vetting, training and remuneration of police officers.
It would also provide frameworks for pensions, equipment, professional conduct, use of force, complaints, discipline and independent oversight.
Rules governing intelligence-sharing and cooperation between federal and state police services would also be included.
The aim is to ensure that state police services operate within a consistent national framework rather than functioning without effective oversight.

STATES WILL NOT BE FORCED TO CREATE POLICE SERVICES

Even if the constitutional amendment and National Policing Bill eventually become law, state police would not automatically be established across Nigeria.
Gbajabiamila explained that each state that chooses to establish its own police service would require an enabling law, appropriate institutions and funding.
States would also have to meet national conditions before their officers could begin policing.
States that do not establish their own police services would continue to be served by the Nigeria Police Force.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RETAINS FINAL LEGISLATIVE ROLE

Gbajabiamila emphasised that the public consultation does not replace the constitutional role of the National Assembly.
The legislature will still have the authority to scrutinise, amend, reject or pass the National Policing Bill once it is formally transmitted.
The public submissions are therefore intended to help shape the proposal before it proceeds through the full legislative process.

PUBLIC INPUT CLOSES THURSDAY

Nigerians have been urged to submit their views before the 5 pm deadline on August 13.
The Presidency is particularly seeking recommendations on how to prevent political interference, determine who should investigate serious police misconduct and establish effective intelligence-sharing across state boundaries.
The consultation represents another step in the government's broader effort to reform Nigeria's policing system amid continuing concerns over insecurity, police accountability and the effectiveness of law enforcement.
For state police to become a reality, however, the constitutional amendment, federal legislation and individual state-level requirements must all be successfully completed.