By Deborah Nnamdi
President Bola Tinubu on Friday evening called on members of the House of Representatives to urgently consider constitutional amendments that would pave the way for the establishment of state police, stressing that any reform must be carefully structured to prevent abuse as experienced in the past.
The President appealed an interfaith breaking of fast he hosted for the leadership and members of the House at the State House, Abuja. The event brought together Muslim and Christian lawmakers in a symbolic show of unity during the Ramadan and Lenten seasons.
The dinner marked the third in a series of interfaith engagements hosted by the President, following similar gatherings with state governors earlier in the week and members of the Senate.
Describing the turnout as a reflection of national cohesion, Tinubu said the gathering underscored the importance of unity across party, religious, and regional lines. He said it was an honour to share in the joy of breaking the fast with both Muslims and Christians, noting that unity remained a divine gift that must be preserved.
In a light-hearted moment, the President joked about charging lawmakers for the dinner before commending the Speaker for his leadership and praising the House for its cooperation with the executive arm of government. He applauded the “richness” and “consciousness” of representation in the chamber.
Reflecting on the early days of his administration, Tinubu expressed gratitude to the lawmakers for supporting his reform agenda, particularly during the challenging period following the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira. He noted that despite intense public criticism, no lawmaker approached him to reverse the policies, which he described as foundational to Nigeria’s economic recovery.
According to him, the backing of the National Assembly at a critical time provided the encouragement needed to press ahead with the reforms. He said the country was now better off as a result.
On security, the President acknowledged ongoing challenges in parts of the country and observed that lawmakers, as grassroots representatives, often face direct pressure from constituents over local insecurity. He argued that since security issues are largely local, decentralizing the policing structure had become imperative.
Tinubu urged the lawmakers to work towards amending the Constitution to accommodate state police but cautioned against adopting an approach that could open the door to misuse. He advised that safeguards must be built into the framework, stressing that a good legislature should learn from past experiences to address present challenges.
The President assured the House of his readiness to collaborate on the reform process, signalling a renewed push for constitutional changes aimed at devolving policing powers — a longstanding and contentious issue in national discourse.
Earlier, Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, reaffirmed the legislature’s support for the President’s policies and leadership. He said members across party lines believed in the direction of the administration and expressed confidence that the reforms were already yielding positive results. Abbas added that greater achievements were expected in the coming years.
