Tinubu names Gbajabiamila, AGF, others in state police implementation committee

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President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday inaugurated the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill to prepare the legal framework for implementing state police across the country.

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

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The inauguration followed the Senate’s passage of the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, proposing a dual policing structure comprising the Federal Police Service and 36 State Police Services.

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Tinubu said while the constitutional amendment creates the framework for state police, the National Policing Bill would provide the legal structure for its implementation.

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He said, “The Constitution Amendment Bill establishes in the framework for dual policing, but it does not operationalise it. That work is left to the National Policing Bill.”

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He said the proposed legislation would address policing standards, state readiness, federal-state coordination, accountability, human rights safeguards and personnel transition.

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“The proposed National Policing Bill will include provisions on minimum policing standards, state readiness certification, federal-state coordination, accountability, human rights safeguards and fiscal conditions,” he noted.

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

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“The Working Group has been constituted to produce a technically robust, implementation-ready draft National Policing Bill for transmission to the National Assembly,” Tinubu said.

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He said the committee would also recommend other legal instruments required for the smooth implementation of the dual policing system.

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“We must not wait until the constitutional process is concluded before beginning this important assignment,” he said.

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Gbajabiamila will serve as chairman of the committee, while members include the Attorney-General of the Federation, National Security Adviser and Inspector-General of Police.

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Others are; President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Chairman, NGF Committee on State Police and a Secretariat.

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

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“There is no denying the fact that we are in a critical moment security-wise, and all hands must be on deck,” he said.

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

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“I appeal to the governors to do their utmost to ensure the early passage of the constitutional amendment because this is a shared responsibility,” he said.

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

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“Nigeria can hardly be effectively policed by one national police. We fully support the constitutional amendment providing for state police,” he said.

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

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“We must ensure we do not create a monster. The right legal framework must guarantee accountability and prevent oppression,” he said.

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

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

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He said the plan is for the 36 state governors to accelerate work on the bill once it gets to their various House of Assembly and passed unanimously.

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“The plan is that when the bill gets to our various Houses of Assembly, we will all pass it on the same day,” he said.

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

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“This bill has answered the cries of Nigerians about cascading policing and removing it from the Exclusive Legislative List.”

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He said the initiative validated the success of regional security outfits such as Amotekun in the South-West.

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“This bill has validated the effectiveness of community policing as demonstrated by Amotekun in the South-West,’ he said.

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Abiodun said state police would significantly increase the number of security personnel across the country.

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“If each state deploys about 6,000 personnel, we will add nearly 200,000 officers to complement the existing federal police.”.

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The governor commended Tinubu for initiating implementation plans before the constitutional amendment process was completed.

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“This inauguration demonstrates the proactiveness of the Executive in preparing for effective implementation,” Abiodun said.

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