Presidential Working Group Extends National Policing Bill Submission Deadline to August 21

The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill has extended the deadline for Nigerians and other stakeholders to submit memoranda and position papers on the proposed legislation.

The new deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026, the Working Group announced in a statement signed by its Chairman and Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The extension, according to the group, is intended to give individuals, institutions and organisations additional time to prepare detailed and well-considered contributions to the proposed policing reform.

The Working Group encouraged legal practitioners, civil society organisations, security professionals, state governments, professional bodies, academics, experts and members of the public to use the additional time to submit their views.

It said broad consultation was essential to developing a policing framework that reflects Nigeria’s security realities while protecting citizens’ rights.

All submissions must be made exclusively through the official National Policing Bill portal, nationalpolicingbill.com, before the new deadline.

According to the Working Group, the proposed legislation is expected to establish the operational, administrative, institutional and funding framework for an effective policing architecture in Nigeria.

It said the reform would also seek to strengthen professionalism and accountability while providing safeguards for citizens’ rights.

Among the major issues stakeholders are expected to consider are sustainable police funding, command and control structures, recruitment and training, operational jurisdiction, inter-agency cooperation and accountability mechanisms.

The Working Group also highlighted the need for safeguards against political interference and abuse of police powers.

The Presidential Working Group said the additional consultation period was important because policing reform would have long-term implications for Nigeria’s internal security.

At the end of its assignment, the group said it would present a final, implementation-ready draft of the National Policing Bill for onward legislative consideration.

The Working Group thanked stakeholders who had already submitted their memoranda and urged others who wish to participate to take advantage of the extended deadline.