By Stephen Simon
The Federal Government has unveiled a seven-week roadmap for the drafting of the proposed National Policing Bill, inviting Nigerians, civil society organisations, legal practitioners and security stakeholders to submit memoranda that will shape what could become one of the country’s most far-reaching security reforms in decades.
The initiative is being coordinated by the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila. According to the Presidency, the consultation process is designed to produce a comprehensive legal framework that will redefine policing responsibilities, improve accountability and address long-standing concerns over public safety across the federation.
The Presidency said the proposed legislation would draw from recommendations of previous constitutional reform efforts and consultations with federal and state institutions. The working group is expected to receive memoranda from state governments, the Nigeria Police Force, the judiciary, the Nigerian Bar Association, traditional rulers, civil society groups and members of the public before presenting a draft bill.
The proposed law comes amid increasing calls for policing reforms as Nigeria continues to grapple with banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other violent crimes. Advocates of state policing have argued that decentralising certain policing functions would improve intelligence gathering, enhance response time and strengthen community participation in crime prevention.
However, the proposal has continued to generate debate among constitutional lawyers and security experts. While supporters insist that a new policing structure is necessary to tackle emerging security threats, critics have warned that any decentralised policing arrangement must include adequate constitutional safeguards to prevent political interference and abuse by state authorities.
Analysts say the nationwide consultation presents a rare opportunity for legal experts, security agencies and ordinary Nigerians to influence the future architecture of policing in the country. They note that the eventual legislation could significantly affect law enforcement, criminal justice administration and relations between the Federal Government and the states.
If enacted by the National Assembly, the National Policing Bill would mark one of the most significant legal reforms of Nigeria’s internal security framework in recent years. The Federal Government has urged interested stakeholders to participate actively in the consultation process to ensure the legislation reflects the country’s security realities and constitutional principles.
