State Police Reform: Gbajabiamila-Led Panel Moves Submission Deadline to August 21

ABUJA: Stakeholders seeking to submit memoranda and position papers on Nigeria’s proposed National Policing Bill have been given additional time, with the Presidential Working Group extending the deadline to August 21, 2026.

The new deadline is 5 p.m. WAT on Friday, August 21.

The decision was disclosed on Thursday by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill.

Gbajabiamila explained that the extension was granted to give interested parties more time to prepare detailed submissions and make meaningful contributions to the proposed legislation.

He said the Working Group intended to ensure that the process remained widely consultative, with views from Nigerians, institutions and relevant stakeholders reflected in the development of the bill.

The proposed legislation, according to the statement, is expected to establish the operational, administrative, institutional and funding structures necessary for an effective policing architecture that can meet Nigeria’s evolving security demands.

The framework is also expected to strengthen safeguards relating to accountability, professionalism and the protection of citizens’ rights.

“Given the significance of the proposed reform to the future of policing and internal security in Nigeria, the Working Group considers it important that stakeholders are afforded more opportunity to make substantive and technically sound contributions to the process,” the statement said.

The panel called on a broad range of stakeholders, including legal practitioners, civil society organisations, security professionals, state governments, professional associations, academics, experts and members of the public, to make use of the additional time.

“All submissions must be made on or before 5:00 p.m. WAT on Friday, August 21, 2026, exclusively through the official National Policing Bill portal, nationalpolicingbill.com,” the statement added.

The Working Group said several critical areas would need to be addressed in establishing the proposed policing framework. These include sustainable funding, command and control, recruitment and training, operational jurisdiction, coordination among security agencies, accountability and protection against political interference or abuse.

It said thorough stakeholder engagement was necessary to ensure the eventual framework would be effective, accountable, sustainable and responsive to the security concerns of communities across the country.

The panel further disclosed that its final responsibility would be to produce a draft that is ready for implementation and legislative consideration.

“At the conclusion of its assignment, the Presidential Working Group will present a final, implementation-ready draft of the National Policing Bill for onward legislative processing,” the statement said.

The Working Group expressed appreciation to stakeholders who had already sent in their memoranda and encouraged those yet to participate to utilise the extended submission period.

Africans Angle News