True State Police Decentralization Is the Role of Federal Legislators, Not the IGP — TYF

April 30, 2026
By Ademola Adekusibe

Think Yoruba First (TYF) has knocked the Inspector General of Police, Tunde Disu, over his planned 60-month reform agenda to decentralise the Nigeria Police Force, describing the initiative as unconstitutional.

The group, in a statement issued on Thursday, argued that the IGP lacks the legal power to establish state police through administrative committees, insisting that only the National Assembly can do so through a constitutional amendment.

TYF noted that the current constitutional framework is unambiguous, citing Section 214 subsection 1 which establishes a single police force for Nigeria and Item 45 of the Exclusive Legislative List which places police under exclusive federal control.

The group warned that without transferring policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List through a full amendment process involving the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, no state can lawfully establish a police force.

TYF also pointed to what it called policy inconsistency, noting that the federal government moved swiftly to decentralise electricity and amend the Electoral Act, yet has shown no such urgency in addressing the security crisis.

“True federalism must apply to all sectors, including security. Anything less is not reform. It is a costly and avoidable mistake,” the statement read in part.

The group called on the IGP to respect constitutional boundaries and engage lawmakers instead of pursuing what it described as procedural shortcuts.