HallowMace Africa Analysis.<\/p>\n
The Nigerian Presidency has announced a seven-week roadmap for the drafting of the National Policing Bill.<\/p>\n
According to the Presidency, the executive-backed process will include a period for public consultation during which Nigerians are expected to submit memoranda before the final draft is presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on September 3, 2026, ahead of its transmission to the National Assembly.<\/p>\n
While HallowMace Africa welcomes every genuine effort aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s policing architecture and improving internal security, we are compelled to raise important constitutional and democratic questions regarding the process being adopted.<\/p>\n
Our concern is not about the desirability of State Police or broader policing reforms. We have consistently maintained that Nigeria must continue to explore practical solutions to its security challenges.<\/p>\n
However, no matter how noble a policy objective may be, it must be pursued through a process that respects democratic principles and constitutional procedures.<\/p>\n
The question therefore is simple:<\/p>\n
Since when did the Executive Arm of Government begin organising what is essentially a public hearing on a legislative proposal???????<\/p>\n
Because, under Nigeria’s constitutional democracy, there is a clear separation of powers among the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.<\/p>\n
The Executive may initiate and sponsor bills, but once such bills are transmitted to the National Assembly, the responsibility for legislative scrutiny, committee consideration, stakeholder engagement and public hearings rests squarely with the Legislature.<\/p>\n
Public hearings are not ceremonial events. They are one of the most important stages of law-making. They provide citizens, professional bodies, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, security experts and other stakeholders with the opportunity to examine proposed legislation, identify possible weaknesses and recommend improvements before a bill becomes law.<\/p>\n
This is what gives legislation democratic legitimacy.<\/p>\n
If the Executive believes that Nigerians deserve to make inputs into the National Policing Bill, and we agree that they do, then a fundamental question arises:<\/p>\n
Why was the National Assembly not allowed to conduct the public hearing as part of the legislative process?????<\/p>\n
Even more importantly, if extensive public consultation is still considered necessary before the bill reaches the National Assembly, does this not suggest that the legislative process was accelerated without sufficient opportunity for public participation??????<\/p>\n
These are legitimate constitutional questions that deserve thoughtful answers o.<\/p>\n
Legislation is not judged solely by the quality of its objectives. It is also judged by the transparency, inclusiveness and credibility of the process through which it is enacted, yes o.<\/p>\n
A law that affects every Nigerian should emerge from an open legislative process where diverse opinions are heard, debated and reflected where appropriate.<\/p>\n
The National Assembly exists not merely to vote on bills, but to serve as the constitutional platform through which the Nigerian people participate in law-making. Conducting extensive consultations outside the legislative process risks creating the impression that Parliament’s constitutionally assigned role in stakeholder engagement is being diminished.<\/p>\n
HallowMace Africa therefore reiterates that the issue is not whether State Police is good or bad. The issue is whether Nigeria is adhering to the constitutional framework that guarantees public participation in the making of laws.<\/p>\n
Democracy thrives not only because good laws are passed, but because those laws are produced through transparent, accountable and participatory processes.<\/p>\n
As Nigeria moves forward with policing reforms, we urge all stakeholders to ensure that constitutional roles are respected. The Executive should formulate and propose policy. The National Assembly should exercise its legislative mandate, including conducting public hearings and receiving memoranda from Nigerians before any bill is passed.<\/p>\n
Good governance demands both good policies and good processes.<\/p>\n
At HallowMace Africa, we believe that when it comes to law-making, the process is just as important as the outcome. A National Policing Bill that carries the voices of Nigerians through the constitutionally recognised legislative process will command greater legitimacy, broader public confidence and stronger democratic acceptance.<\/p>\n
God Bless Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Amb. Anderson Osiebe
\nExecutive Director
\nHallowMace Africa<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
HallowMace Africa Analysis. The Nigerian Presidency has announced a seven-week roadmap for the drafting of the National Policing Bill. According to the Presidency, the executive-backed process will include a period for public consultation during which Nigerians are expected to submit memoranda before the final draft is presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on September 3,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1096,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[56,27,120],"class_list":["post-1095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general-news","tag-anderson-osiebe","tag-hallowmace","tag-presidency"],"yoast_head":"\n