Reps To Streamline, End Rivalry Among Security Agencies

Edited By Oduyemi Odumade

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Abbas Tajudeen says the parliament will review the extant laws governing security agencies in the country to streamline and end the rivalry amongst them.

Dr. Abbas stated this at a retreat on “Promoting Cooperation and Collaboration for Effective Legislation and Oversight of the Security Sector in Nigeria”, organized by KONRAD and the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies in Lagos.

Represented by his deputy, Benjamin Kalu, the Speaker, also says that adopting the measure will tremendously help in the fight against insecurity.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Levinus Nwabughiogu,
the Speaker who acknowledges and commends the sacrifices made by security organizations, says that it is important to recognize the challenges posed by intera-gency rivalry and lack of cooperation among them, stressing that the issues ultimately undermined the ability to effectively address the precarious security situation in the country.

“Many experts attribute this challenge to the legal framework that establishes these agencies. The current framework creates conflicting roles and fails to clearly define boundaries between them. As a result, there is often a lack of coordination and collaboration, hindering our collective efforts to ensure national security.

“It is equally imperative that we strengthen our legislative and oversight functions to ensure that our security agencies are well-equipped, well-trained, and accountable to the Nigerian people. It is in this light that this retreat finds its relevance as it will equip legislators with the needed skill and capacity to conduct oversight of the security sector and improve legislations in this regard.

“Effective legislation is the cornerstone of a robust security sector. As lawmakers, it is our responsibility to enact laws that provides a legal framework for the operations of our security agencies. These laws should be comprehensive, clear, and responsive to the evolving nature of security threats. We must also ensure that these laws respect human rights, promote transparency, and uphold the rule of law” he says.

Edited By Grace Namiji