By MUHYIDEEN JIMOH

The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill has completed drafting the proposed legislation and submitted it, alongside 29 consequential amendment bills, to the Federal Ministry of Justice for review and validation.

The submission was made on Monday to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, in line with the Working Group’s work plan.

Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Working Group, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the Ministry’s review would ensure that the bills complied with legislative drafting standards and conventions and did not conflict with existing laws.

The Ministry Is expected to return the validated draft bills to the Working Group on or before Oct. 30.

The Working Group will then give the bills final consideration before presenting them to President Bola Tinubu, thereby concluding its mandate.

The proposed National Policing Bill seeks to establish the constitutional and legislative framework for a dual policing structure comprising the Federal Police Service and State Police Services.

The Working Group said the process remained rigorous and transparent, with the aim of producing a comprehensive legislative proposal for the President’s consideration and subsequent transmission to the National Assembly.

The drafting process is proceeding alongside the ongoing consideration of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, by the State Houses of Assembly.

The constitutional amendment process must be completed before the bill is transmitted to the National Assembly. (NAN)