The Presidential Working Group expects to transmit the National Policing Bill to the National Assembly within two weeks, with its chairman, Femi Gbajabiamila, saying preparations are approximately 90 per cent complete.
Gbajabiamila, who is also Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, disclosed this on Thursday after a steering committee meeting at the State House, Abuja.
He said the group needed to resolve outstanding observations from governors and complete a final review before transmission.
One More Meeting Expected Before Submission
Gbajabiamila said the proposed legislation had undergone extensive deliberations since the steering committee began its work on August 3.
“The National Policing Bill is more or less ready for transmission to the National Assembly. We will probably have one more meeting after this to cross the t’s and dot the i’s and make sure every area is covered. So, we are 90% ready,” he said.
He indicated that the remaining issues could be addressed within approximately a week.
“The governors have one or two observations, and we should be ready in about a week or so,” Gbajabiamila added.
Gbajabiamila Expresses Confidence in State Police Amendment
The Chief of Staff also addressed concerns about the pace of state legislative consideration of the Sixth Constitution Alteration Bill concerning state police.
Responding to a question citing reports that only about six state assemblies had passed the amendment, he maintained that there was broad national agreement on the need for the changes.
“I see no reason why anyone will want to have a rethink on it,” he said.
The National Policing Bill and the constitutional amendment concerning state police are separate legislative measures. Gbajabiamila’s remarks indicated that work on the policing bill was approaching the point of submission, rather than that it had already been passed into law.
Governors, Police and Justice Officials Attend
Participants included Nigeria Governors’ Forum Chairman and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani.
Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu also attended. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice was represented by the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba.
Other participants included:
1. Justice Abdullahi Liman (retd), Chairman of the Policy Advisory Committee.
2. Professor Olu Ogunsakin, Head of the Nigeria Police Reform Secretariat.
3. Dr Lanre Smart, Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, House of Representatives.
4. Nnadubem Moghalu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Planning and Research and Secretary of the Committee.
5. A representative of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association.
6. AIG Abraham Nabhon Thomas, representing the National Security Adviser.
Security Challenges Sustain Attention on Policing Reform
The discussions come amid continuing demands for stronger protection of communities and major routes.
Recent security developments reported by The Bureau Journal include the interception of an arms cache in Kogi and the rescue of abducted people following a gun battle in Itobe.
The working group’s next step is to complete its review and transmit the proposed legislation for consideration by the National Assembly.
