President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has renewed calls for the establishment of state police and the full implementation of local government autonomy, urging governors and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to throw their weight behind the reforms.

Speaking at the 14th meeting of the APC National Caucus on Thursday, the President asked governors to support the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments. He stressed that it is not enough for the ruling to exist on paper, insisting that allocations meant for local government councils must reach them directly.

Amid rising security challenges across the country, Tinubu also directed the Minister of Interior to work with the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to replace affected police personnel with NSCDC officers, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen internal security.

Why is the push for state police gaining momentum now? Observers note that increasing insecurity nationwide has intensified calls for decentralised policing to enhance local response and intelligence gathering.

The President further called for greater inclusion of women in the APC National Caucus, saying improved gender balance is essential for a more representative and effective party structure.

With security concerns mounting and local governance reforms under judicial backing, will governors rally behind Tinubu’s call to make state police and local government autonomy a reality?