Amanze Chinonye
Nigeria’s Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill has extended the deadline for public submissions by eight days, giving stakeholders until 5 p.m. on Aug. 21 to submit memoranda and position papers on the proposed overhaul of the country’s policing system, Prime Business Africa reports.
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The new deadline, announced on Thursday by Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and chairman of the working group, Femi Gbajabiamila, replaces the initial Aug. 13 cutoff. The extension is intended to give individuals, institutions and organisations more time to prepare substantive and technically sound contributions to the proposed legislation.
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The working group urged legal practitioners, civil society organisations, security-sector professionals, state governments, professional bodies, academics, technical experts and other interested members of the public to use the additional window to submit their views.
All submissions must be made exclusively through the official National Policing Bill portal by 5 p.m. West Africa Time on Aug. 21, the group said.
The proposed legislation is intended to establish the operational, administrative, institutional and funding framework for a policing architecture capable of responding to Nigeria’s evolving security needs, while strengthening accountability, professionalism and the protection of citizens’ rights.
The working group said the drafting process would require careful consideration of sustainable funding, command and control structures, recruitment and training standards, operational jurisdiction and coordination among security agencies.
It also identified accountability mechanisms and safeguards against political interference and abuse as critical elements of the proposed framework, reflecting longstanding concerns over the potential misuse of state-controlled police forces.
The move forms part of President Tinubu’s push to establish a framework for state policing alongside the existing federal police structure. The reform is aimed at creating a system that is more responsive to local security conditions while maintaining common standards across the country.
The extension means the working group now has additional time to assess a broader range of views before completing its assignment. It said it would ultimately produce a final, implementation-ready draft of the National Policing Bill for onward legislative processing.
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The proposed reform could significantly reshape Nigeria’s internal security architecture, but the bill itself would not immediately establish operational state police forces. The wider reform requires the necessary constitutional and legislative processes before states can establish and operate their own police services.
For stakeholders, the Aug. 21 deadline therefore represents another opportunity to influence provisions that could determine how federal and state police share responsibilities, how new police formations are funded and supervised, and what safeguards will govern their conduct.
The extension also underscores the government’s effort to broaden consultation before advancing a reform that could fundamentally alter the way policing is organised and delivered across Nigeria.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
