Fresh Boost For Tinubu As US Lawmaker Endorses State Police Initiative

A United States congressman, Riley Moore, has praised the Nigerian Senate’s approval of the Constitution Alteration Bill aimed at establishing state police, describing the move as a significant step toward improving security and empowering states to better protect their residents.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Moore, who represents West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, made the remarks in a post on his X account on Wednesday.

According to the lawmaker, the creation of state-level police forces has been one of the reforms he has consistently advocated, particularly in discussions surrounding insecurity and attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria.

“I’m encouraged to see Nigeria’s Senate approve legislation to establish state-level police forces, a reform I’ve called for publicly and privately since I first began examining the persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” Moore wrote.

He argued that decentralising policing would strengthen the ability of state governments to respond to security threats while reducing reliance on decisions made at the federal level.

Moore further stated that the proposed reform could play an important role in addressing insecurity and improving protection for vulnerable communities across the country.

The U.S. congressman also commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting the initiative, noting that the President played a key role in advancing the proposal.

“President Tinubu deserves credit for pushing it forward,” he said, while pointing out that the amendment must still secure approval from at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly before it can take effect.

On Wednesday, the Senate passed the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish state police across the federation after receiving the support of more than two-thirds of lawmakers.

The proposed legislation provides for a state policing system that would operate alongside the existing federal police structure.

Under the bill, state governors would have the authority to appoint Commissioners of Police, subject to confirmation by their respective State Houses of Assembly.

The legislation also includes safeguards aimed at preventing the misuse of state police powers. Among its provisions is a clause prohibiting the deployment of state police against individuals or groups solely for criticising a state government, except where permitted by law.

The constitutional amendment will only become effective after obtaining the required approvals from state legislatures and completing all other constitutional requirements.