* Submission now to close Friday, August 21
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill set up by President Bola Tinubu has extended the deadline for the submission of memoranda and position papers on the proposed legislation by eight days.
The submission of the proposed bill’s memo and position papers initially billed to close by 5pm on Thursday, August 13, 2026 will now end by Friday, August 21, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. West Africa Time (WAT).
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Chief of Staff to the President, who also doubles as Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, the extension is intended to provide stakeholders with additional time for thorough preparation and ensure that interested individuals, institutions and organisations have adequate opportunity to make well-considered contributions to the proposed legislation.
The release stated that 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.
The proposed legislation, Gbajabiamila further explained, is intended to provide the operational, administrative, institutional and funding framework necessary for an effective policing architecture that responds to Nigeria’s evolving security needs, while providing appropriate safeguards for accountability, professionalism and the protection of citizens’ rights.
Gbajabiamila, in the release, stated inter alia: “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.
“Accordingly, legal practitioners, civil society organisations, security sector professionals, state governments, professional bodies, academics, experts and interested members of the public are encouraged to take advantage of the extended period to submit their memoranda and position papers. 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 Working Group recognises that developing an effective policing framework requires careful consideration of critical issues, including sustainable funding, command and control structures, recruitment and training standards, operational jurisdiction, inter-agency coordination, accountability mechanisms and safeguards against political interference or abuse.
“These considerations underscore the importance of robust stakeholder engagement in developing a framework that is effective, accountable, sustainable and responsive to the peculiar security needs of communities across the Federation.
“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 Presidential Working Group appreciates stakeholders who have already made submissions and encourages others intending to participate in this important national process to take advantage of the extension.”
Gbajabiamila had on Monday, August 3, in a bid to encourage public participation, announced an open call for memoranda and position papers from Nigerians, civil society organisations, professional bodies, security institutions and other stakeholders.
The CoS to the president, who spoke with newsmen at the end of the Group’s meeting at the State House, Abuja, disclosed that a dedicated portal, nationalpolicingbill.com, had gone live to receive submissions, with plans for migration to a government domain.
“The whole idea behind state policing is for you and I and everybody out there to take ownership. No matter your station in life, you have an opportunity to contribute meaningfully,” he said.