Tinubu to Reps: Amend Constitution to Establish State Police — but Prevent Abuse

President Bola Tinubu has asked the house of representatives to amend the 1999 constitution to make room for the establishment of a decentralised police force.

Tinubu made the appeal on Friday while hosting members of the green chamber to an interfaith breaking of fast at the State House.

The president said state police has become critical to tackling Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.

Tinubu said a decentralised policing structure would complement the existing federal security architecture and promote intelligence-led, community-focused law enforcement.

“I see some of you [lawmakers] on television going to your localities and facing challenges. Now you know, more than anybody else, that security is local,” Tinubu said.

“If security is local, we just have to work together to put pressure on our public to accept the need for state police.”

Tinubu urged the legislators to tighten the proposed amendment to prevent the abuse of state police.

“Amend it [the constitution], not a straight free fall for everybody. Tie it in a way that will not be abused, like in the past,” he said.

“A good legislature must learn from the past to cure the present. On that, I am ready to work with you.”

The national assembly is currently amending the 1999 constitution but is yet to vote on alteration bills.

“It was very difficult at the beginning for people to realise the direction of my thinking,” he said.

“None of you came to me to ask if I can reverse the removal of the subsidy or change the foreign exchange floatation of the naira.

“You collaborated and joined me as a team. You inspired me to move on because the heat was a high voltage from critics but today we are better off for it.”