National Policing Bill 90% Ready For Transmission To National Assembly — Gbajabiamila

The proposed National Policing Bill is 90 per cent ready for transmission to the National Assembly, with the Federal Government expected to forward the legislation within the next two weeks.

The Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on Policing Reform, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing journalists after a meeting of the group's steering committee at the State House, Abuja.

Gbajabiamila said the committee might hold one additional meeting to finalise outstanding issues and incorporate observations from state governors before transmitting the bill to the National Assembly.

“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 per cent ready,” he said.

He added that the governors had raised a few observations that would be considered before the document was finalised.

“The governors have one or two observations, and we should be ready in about a week or so,” he stated.

Describing the proposed legislation as the most consequential bill of the administration so far, Gbajabiamila said the working group had undertaken extensive deliberations since its steering committee commenced discussions on August 3.

The proposed legislation forms part of ongoing efforts to advance policing reforms in Nigeria.

On concerns that some states might delay the passage of the Sixth Constitution Alteration Bill, which seeks to provide for the establishment of state police, Gbajabiamila expressed confidence that the amendment enjoyed broad national support.

His comments followed reports that only about six states out of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory had passed the constitutional amendment at the time of the briefing.

“I see no reason why anyone will want to have a rethink on it,” he said, expressing confidence in the national consensus on the need for the proposed constitutional changes.

Thursday's meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State; and the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice was represented by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba.

Other participants included the Chairman of the Policy Advisory Committee, Justice Abdullahi Liman (rtd.); Head of the Nigeria Police Reform Secretariat, Professor Olu Ogunsakin; and the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), Dr Lanre Smart.

Also present were the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Planning and Research and Secretary of the Committee, Nnadubem Moghalu; a representative of the Nigerian Bar Association; and Assistant Inspector-General of Police Abraham Nabhon Thomas, who represented the National Security Adviser.

The proposed National Policing Bill is expected to be transmitted to the National Assembly after the committee concludes its final consultations and addresses the outstanding observations.