President Bola Tinubu. Photo credit: State House
President Bola Tinubu has renewed his call for far-reaching security and governance reforms, insisting that the establishment of state police and the full implementation of local government autonomy must move from debate to action.
Speaking on Thursday at the 14th meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Caucus in Abuja, the President urged governors—particularly those elected on the platform of the ruling party—to throw their weight behind the reforms, which he described as critical to strengthening grassroots governance and tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.
Tinubu stressed that the recent Supreme Court judgment affirming local government autonomy must be respected in practice, not just in principle.
“It is not enough that the court has passed the judgment,” the President said. “Allocations for local government councils must go to them directly.”
In a related move aimed at strengthening internal security operations, Tinubu directed the Minister of Interior to work closely with the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to replace affected police personnel with NSCDC officers where necessary.
The President also used the occasion to call for broader representation within the party’s highest decision-making body, urging greater inclusion of women in the APC National Caucus to promote gender balance.
His renewed push for state police comes at a time when calls for decentralised policing have intensified nationwide, driven by persistent security concerns across several states.
Tinubu’s message was clear: meaningful reforms at the state and local levels are no longer optional, but essential to delivering effective governance and lasting security for Nigerians.
