Tinubu’s quest for a state police force made progress, as the Presidential Group forwarded the draft bill to the AGF

Efforts by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to establish a state police structure in the country advanced further on Tuesday, when the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill made progress in that direction.

The group revealed that they have forwarded the draft amendments to the National Policing Bill 2026, and 29 further amendment bills to the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation for review and validation of the draft laws.

The President’s Chief of Staff and Chair of the Working Group, Femi Gbajabiamila, who stated this in his statement, said that the group had completed the preparation phase of their assignment.

According to him, the draft law was submitted to the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice on Monday.

He said, “The submission was made on 19 October 2026 to the Honorable Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, in line with the work plan of the Working Group.

“The review by the ministry will ensure that the draft law complies with standards and conventions for drafting laws, and does not conflict with existing laws.

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“The Ministry of Justice is expected to return the draft law that has been passed to the Working Group on or before Friday, 30 October 2026. The Working Group will then give final consideration to the draft law before submitting it to the President, so that it can complete its mandate.”

Gbajabiamila said the proposed National Policing Bill seeks to establish a constitutional and legislative framework for a dual policing structure, consisting of the Federal Police Service and the State Police Service.

He added that the Working Group remained committed to a “rigorous and transparent process” that would produce comprehensive legislative proposals for consideration by the President and subsequent transmission to the National Assembly.

According to the former legislator, the work is running concurrently with the ongoing consideration of the Constitution (Sixth Amendment) Bill 2026 by the State Assembly, which “must be completed before the bill is submitted to the National Assembly”.

On October 15, Gbajabiamila told State House correspondents that the police bill was “90 percent ready” and would be submitted to the National Assembly on October 29.

The Senate passed the bill on June 24, after which it was also passed by the House of Representatives.

After that, the National Assembly sent it to the 36 State Assemblies on September 16, and it must be approved by at least 24 state assemblies.

Tinubu inaugurated the seven-member Presidential Working Group on July 7, and its steering committee began work on August 3.

He mandated the DPR to produce a “draft National Police Law that is technically strong and ready to be implemented.”