By Hosea Parah
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.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman, Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Tuesday.
The submission was made on October 19, 2026, to the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, in line with the Working Group’s work plan. The Ministry’s review will ensure that the bills conform to legislative drafting standards and conventions, and that they do not conflict with existing laws.
The Ministry of Justice is expected to return the validated draft bills to the Working Group on or before Friday, 30th October 2026. The Working Group will then give the validated bills final consideration before presenting them to President, thereby concluding its mandate.
The proposed National Policing Bill seeks to establish the constitutional and legislative framework for a dual policing structure, comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.
The Working Group remains committed to a rigorous and transparent process that will deliver a comprehensive legislative proposal for consideration by the President and subsequent transmission to the National Assembly.
The work on preparing the National Policing Bill is proceeding alongside the ongoing consideration of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 by the States Houses of Assembly, which must be completed before the Bill is transmitted to the National Assembly.