The Presidency has extended the deadline for Nigerians and other stakeholders to submit memoranda and position papers on the proposed National Policing Bill.
The new deadline is Friday, August 21, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. West Africa Time, giving individuals, organisations and institutions additional time to contribute to the proposed legislation.
The extension was announced by the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, chaired by President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The group said the additional time was necessary to encourage broader participation and ensure that the proposed policing framework benefits from informed contributions from Nigerians and relevant stakeholders.
“The Presidential Working Group is committed to ensuring that the process of developing the National Policing Bill benefits from broad consultation and the informed perspectives of Nigerians and relevant stakeholders.”
What the proposed bill will cover
The National Policing Bill is expected to provide the legal and operational framework for implementing Nigeria’s emerging dual policing structure, including the proposed state police system.
The Working Group said important areas under consideration include funding, command and control, recruitment and training, operational jurisdiction, cooperation between security agencies, accountability and safeguards against political interference or abuse.
The Presidency has previously said the National Policing Bill is intended to provide the legal structure needed to operationalise the constitutional framework for state police. (State House Abuja)
Gbajabiamila encouraged legal practitioners, civil society organisations, security professionals, state governments, academics, professional bodies and members of the public to use the extended period to submit their views.
Submissions are to be made through the official National Policing Bill portal before the new deadline.
Final bill expected in September
The Working Group said it will review the submissions before producing a final, implementation-ready draft of the National Policing Bill for legislative consideration.
The completed Executive Bill package is expected to be presented to President Bola Tinubu for review on September 3, 2026.
The extension comes as Nigeria continues preparations for a major restructuring of its policing system, with the proposed state police framework already progressing through the constitutional amendment process. (Punch Newspapers)
Source: Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill; Presidency.
