Tinubu Seeks House Backing for State Police, Warns Against Past Abuses

President Bola Tinubu has pledged to work closely with the House of Representatives to advance the proposed creation of state police, stressing that any enabling law must include strong safeguards to prevent a repeat of past abuses.

The President made the commitment on Friday night in Abuja during a Ramadan fast-breaking (Iftar) with members of the House. He said security challenges across the country have underscored the need for a more localized policing structure, backed by constitutional provisions.

According to him, policing is fundamentally local and requires reforms that reflect the realities in communities across the federation. He urged lawmakers to carefully consider the constitutional amendments required to establish state police while ensuring accountability and respect for human rights.

The appeal to the Green Chamber follows a similar engagement with the Senate earlier in the week, as the administration intensifies efforts to build consensus in the National Assembly on the proposed reform.

Tinubu also commended the lawmakers for their continued collaboration with the executive arm and for supporting his administration’s economic reform agenda, describing their partnership as critical to national stability and growth.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, assured the President of the House’s readiness to consider proposals aimed at strengthening national security, noting that legislative backing would be guided by the interest of Nigerians.

The push for state police has remained a key issue in ongoing constitutional reform debates, amid calls for improved security architecture nationwide.