KEY POINTS
- Tinubu urged lawmakers to begin State Police amendment process.
- Constitutional change requires two-thirds majority and state ratification.
- President defended reforms and called for political unity.
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday urged the National Assembly to begin amending the Constitution to allow for state police, intensifying his push for structural reforms to address Nigeria’s security crisis.
Speaking during an interfaith breaking of fast with senators at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu said incorporating state police into the Constitution had become necessary to confront terrorism, banditry and insurgency.
“What I am asking for tonight is for you to start thinking how best to amend the Constitution to incorporate the State Police for us to secure our country, take over our forests from marauders, free our children from fear,” the President told lawmakers.
Push for State Police Amendment
Policing remains on Nigeria’s exclusive legislative list, placing it under federal control through the Nigeria Police Force. Establishing state police would require a constitutional amendment passed by a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the National Assembly and ratification by at least 24 of the 36 state assemblies.
Tinubu’s appeal follows a similar commitment made days earlier to state governors, when he said the creation of state police “will not be postponed.”
Calls for a State Police amendment have gained support among governors, traditional rulers and security experts who argue that decentralised policing could improve local intelligence and response times.
Tinubu further described Nigeria as “extremely challenged” by insecurity and commended lawmakers for backing security-related initiatives. “You never fail to make the right response to these calls,” he said, pledging not to take legislative support for granted.
Reform Agenda and Political Unity
The President also addressed criticism that defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress amount to weakening political competition. “When they accused me of killing opposition, I didn’t have a gun,” he said, adding that he could not fault politicians for “jumping out of a sinking ship.”
Tinubu urged political leaders to unite against terrorism and banditry, describing national cohesion as essential to sustaining constitutional democracy. He credited the National Assembly for supporting key economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange unification.
Defending the subsidy decision, he called the previous system “monumental corruption” and said his administration chose not to participate in it. Tinubu finally said Nigeria is now experiencing economic stability and called on lawmakers to sustain cooperation as reforms continue.
