The Presidency has announced that public submissions on the proposed National Policing Bill will officially close by 5 p.m. today, marking a major step in the ongoing efforts to establish state police and reform Nigeria’s policing structure. 

Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the consultation process was created to allow Nigerians contribute ideas and professional expertise that could help shape the proposed legislation. 

According to Gbajabiamila, contributions from the public are particularly important in addressing concerns surrounding political interference, police accountability, misconduct investigations and intelligence sharing between federal and state policing structures. 

He stressed that the consultation process does not replace the role of the National Assembly, which retains the constitutional authority to review, amend, reject or pass the proposed legislation once it is formally transmitted. 

Gbajabiamila noted that one of the major concerns surrounding state police is the possibility of abuse by state governments. He said the proposed framework must include safeguards capable of preventing governors from using state police against political opponents, journalists, protesters or minority groups. 

“For too long, the debate has been framed as a choice between effective local policing and protection from political abuse. Nigeria needs both,” Gbajabiamila said while encouraging Nigerians to submit their views before the deadline. 

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives explained that although state police could improve responses to local security challenges by placing officers closer to communities, proper oversight mechanisms would be essential to prevent misuse of power. 

He also disclosed that Nigeria’s Constitution currently recognises only one police force, the Nigeria Police Force, meaning constitutional amendments are required before state police can become operational. Both chambers of the National Assembly have already approved proposed amendments creating a Federal Police Service and State Police Services, although several legislative stages remain outstanding. 

Under the constitutional amendment process, the proposal must still secure approval from at least 24 state Houses of Assembly before it can be transmitted to the President for assent. 

The Presidency said the National Policing Bill is expected to establish standards covering recruitment, training, discipline, equipment, intelligence sharing, complaints procedures and cooperation between federal and state police services. 

Officials have maintained that even if the constitutional amendment succeeds, individual states will still be required to establish their own legal and operational frameworks before creating state police services.