The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill has extended the deadline for stakeholders to submit memoranda and position papers on the proposed legislation to Friday, August 21, 2026.
The new deadline is 5 p.m. West Africa Time.
The extension was announced on Thursday by the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and Chairman of the Working Group, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.
Gbajabiamila said the decision was taken to give individuals, institutions and organisations additional time to prepare comprehensive submissions and make meaningful contributions to the proposed policing reforms.
He explained that the Working Group was determined to ensure extensive consultation and incorporate diverse, informed perspectives into the development of the National Policing Bill.
According to him, the proposed law is expected to establish the operational, administrative, institutional and financial structures needed to create a more effective policing system capable of addressing Nigeria’s changing security challenges.
The framework, he added, would also strengthen accountability and professionalism while protecting citizens’ fundamental rights.
The Working Group said the importance of the proposed reforms warranted allowing stakeholders more time to submit substantive and technically sound recommendations.
It therefore urged legal practitioners, civil society organisations, security professionals, state governments, academics, professional associations, experts and members of the public who have an interest in policing reforms to use the additional period to participate in the process.
All memoranda and position papers must be submitted exclusively through the official National Policing Bill portal by 5 p.m. on August 21.
The panel said several critical areas require thorough consideration, including sustainable funding, command and control, recruitment and training, operational jurisdiction, coordination among security agencies, accountability and measures to prevent political interference and abuse.
It stressed that extensive stakeholder engagement remained essential to producing a policing framework that would be effective, sustainable, accountable and responsive to the security concerns of communities across Nigeria.
At the end of its assignment, the Working Group said it would submit a final, implementation-ready draft of the National Policing Bill for further legislative consideration.
The panel expressed appreciation to stakeholders who had already submitted their contributions and encouraged others yet to participate to take advantage of the extended deadline.
