THE Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill has commenced the review of memoranda and position papers submitted by Nigerians as part of efforts to incorporate public input into the proposed legislation expected to provide the framework for the creation of state police.
News Point Nigeria reports that the proposed National Policing Bill is a key component of the security reform agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and is expected to guide the establishment of a dual policing structure comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.
The review of the submissions was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday evening by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chairperson of the Presidential Working Group, who said the memoranda received during the nationwide consultation were now being analysed alongside the ongoing drafting of the proposed bill.
Gbajabiamila said the exercise was designed to ensure that relevant recommendations, concerns and perspectives generated during the consultation were carefully considered as the proposed legislation takes shape.
The nationwide consultation attracted contributions from institutions, professional bodies, civil society organisations, security experts and members of the public.
According to the working group chairman, the review of the submissions is being conducted simultaneously with the commencement of the first drafting sprint by legal drafters nominated by the Federal Ministry of Justice under the working group’s seven-week workplan.
He added that the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC), chaired by retired judge Mohammed Liman, had also completed the first stage of its oversight role and provided policy direction for the drafting process.
The development comes after the working group extended the deadline for the submission of memoranda and position papers to give Nigerians additional time to contribute to the proposed legislation.
The eight-day extension is expected to expire on Friday, August 21, at 5 p.m.
The proposed National Policing Bill is expected to provide the constitutional and legislative framework for the proposed dual policing arrangement comprising the Federal Police Service and State Police Services.
The framework is also expected to include institutional safeguards, accountability mechanisms and oversight arrangements aimed at guiding the operations of the proposed policing structure.
The development follows the passage of a constitutional amendment bill on state police by the National Assembly.
While the Senate passed its version of the constitutional amendment bill in June, the House of Representatives passed its own version in July.
The ongoing review and drafting process indicate that President Tinubu intends to transmit a fresh National Policing Bill to the National Assembly for legislative consideration.
Gbajabiamila said the working group would proceed to the next phase of drafting after the consultation window closes, with the objective of producing a comprehensive proposal for consideration by the President and its eventual transmission to the National Assembly.
He expressed appreciation to the institutions, organisations, professionals, security experts and members of the public who had contributed to the nationwide consultation.
According to him, the submissions and recommendations received from Nigerians would form an important part of the broader effort to develop a policing framework capable of responding to Nigeria’s contemporary security needs.