Deadline for public input on Nigeria's state policing bill extended to Aug 21
FG's Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill has pushed the deadline for public memoranda from Thursday, 13 August to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, 21 August, giving eight extra days for submissions. Chairperson Femi Gbajabiamila, also chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, said the extension allows individuals, institutions and organisations more time to prepare their contributions to the proposed state policing legislation. In June, the National Assembly passed a bill to create state police, a key Tinubu reform aimed at curbing rising insecurity. The proposal envisions state police operating under an expanded National Police Council, with safeguards such as legislative confirmation of state police commissioners and independent state police service commissions to oversee recruitment and discipline. Critics, including former police chiefs, warn governors could abuse the system, but the working group says public input will address these concerns. All submissions must be made exclusively through the official National Policing Bill portal before the new deadline. The group will present a final, implementation-ready draft for legislative processing after its assignment, with Tinubu set to receive the draft on 3 September. Will you use the extra time to submit your views on how state policing should be structured, or wait to see the final bill?