President Bola Tinubu has urged members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives to prioritise constitutional amendments that would allow for the establishment of state police.
Tinubu warned that any reform must be carefully structured to prevent a repeat of past abuses.
The President made the call on Friday at an interfaith breaking of fast he hosted for the leadership and members of the House at the State House.
Muslim and Christian lawmakers attended the gathering in a symbolic display of unity during the Ramadan and Lenten seasons.
It was the third in a series of such engagements by Tinubu, following earlier dinners with state governors and the leadership of the Senate.
Addressing the lawmakers, the President described the turnout as a reflection of national cohesion across party, religious and regional divides, stressing the importance of unity at a time of economic and political reform.
In a lighter moment, Tinubu joked about asking legislators to pay for the dinner before praising the Speaker and members of the House for their cooperation with the executive.
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He commended what he described as the “richness” and “consciousness” of representation within the chamber.
Reflecting on the early phase of his administration, the President thanked lawmakers for backing his reform agenda, particularly during the controversial removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira.
He stated that, despite intense public criticism, no member of the House had asked him to reverse the policies.
According to Tinubu, the legislature’s support during that period provided the momentum needed to push through reforms he considers essential to Nigeria’s economic recovery.
Turning to security, the President acknowledged persistent challenges in several parts of the country, saying that lawmakers often bear the brunt of public frustration over local insecurity in their constituencies.
Arguing that security challenges are best addressed at the local level, he renewed his case for state policing but cautioned against a blanket approach.
Any constitutional amendment, he said, must include safeguards to prevent abuse, drawing lessons from Nigeria’s past.
Earlier, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who led the House delegation, reaffirmed the House’s support for the President’s policies, saying lawmakers across party lines believed in the direction of the administration and were confident that the reforms would deliver greater gains in the years ahead.