By Our Correspondent
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rally behind the establishment of state police and to fully implement local government autonomy, describing both reforms as critical to Nigeria’s security and democratic development.
The president made the appeal during an APC National Caucus meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where party leaders and governors gathered to review key national issues. Tinubu stressed that Nigeria’s worsening security challenges require bold and pragmatic solutions, including decentralising policing to allow states play a more active role in maintaining law and order.
According to him, the creation of state police would strengthen internal security by enabling quicker, community-based responses to crime and insecurity. Tinubu expressed confidence that the long-debated reform would eventually become a reality, urging governors to see it not as a partisan issue but as a national necessity that would improve the safety of lives and property across the country.
Beyond security, the president also emphasised the need for genuine local government autonomy. He reminded governors of the Supreme Court judgment affirming the financial independence of local councils and urged them to comply fully with its provisions. Tinubu noted that true autonomy means allowing local governments direct access to their statutory allocations, without interference from state governments.
He argued that empowering local councils financially and administratively would strengthen grassroots governance, improve service delivery, and deepen democracy at the community level. Tinubu added that development cannot be sustained if the third tier of government remains weak or dependent.
The president’s remarks come amid renewed national debate on constitutional reforms, particularly around policing and fiscal federalism. Observers see his call as a significant push from the presidency to align APC governors with reforms that could reshape Nigeria’s governance and security architecture.
Party leaders at the meeting echoed the need for unity and cooperation among APC-controlled states, noting that successful implementation of these reforms would require political will, constitutional backing, and safeguards to prevent abuse.
Tinubu concluded by urging governors to prioritise national interest over political convenience, insisting that both state police and local government autonomy are essential steps toward a safer, more inclusive, and better-governed Nigeria.
