President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill to prepare the legal framework for the implementation of state police across the country.

President Tinubu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, inaugurated the panel at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The inauguration followed the National Assembly’s passage of the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, in which the President proposes a dual policing structure comprising the Federal Police Service and 36 State Police Services.

The President said that while the constitutional amendment creates the framework for state police, the National Policing Bill would provide the legal structure for its mplementation.

He said the proposed legislation would address issues necessary for a smooth operationalization of the State Police system.

The President said that the committee will produce an implementation-ready draft bill immediately after the constitutional amendment process.

He said the committee was necessary to avoid delays after the State Police bill passed.

Gbajabiamila will serve as the committee's chairman. Members include the Attorney-General of the Federation, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, the Chairman of the NGF Committee on State Police. A Secretariat will offer some administrative assistance to the committee.

Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, on behalf of the NGF, pledged governors’ support for the speedy implementation of the reform.

He said the plan is for the 36 state governors to accelerate work on the bill once it reaches their respective Houses of Assembly and is passed unanimously.

Abiodun described the proposed state police as a response to Nigerians’ long-standing demand for community-based policing.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, described the initiative as timely in view of Nigeria’s security challenges.

Fagbemi urged governors to ensure speedy ratification of the constitutional amendment by their respective state assemblies.

President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, reaffirmed the association’s support for the state police initiative.

Osigwe, however, stressed the need for adequate legal safeguards to prevent abuse of state police.

He pledged the NBA’s commitment to supporting the committee in producing legislation that will strengthen security while protecting citizens’ rights.