Insecurity and multiple-solution proposals in NASS


Being one of the major challenges confronting Nigeria now, hardly a week will pass by in the Senate and by extension, the National Assembly, that the issue of insecurity does not crop up and solutions proffered. TAIYE  ODEWALE reports .
Right from the 6th National Assembly in 2009, the issue of insecurity in Nigeria  and how to tackle it, have always been a recurring decimal at both chambers, either by way of motions raised by any of the federal lawmakers or bills sponsored to that effect .


At all times the issue is debated upon , either on the floor of the Senate or that  of the House of Representatives ,  provisions of section 14(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) , are always referenced , particularly 14(2b ) which states thus: ” The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government” .
Usually after the outcome of such debates , solutions driven resolutions such as the need for creation of state police by way of decentralizing the centralized security architecture of the country or community policing , are always arrived at.
In the senate in particular, security summits were held in the 8th and current 9th Senate. Consequently, rejigging of the nation’s security architecture was proffered as solution either through creation of state police or adoption of community policing strategy being proposed by the current Inspector – General of Police , Mohammed Adamu .


These strategies, to a large extent, will stem the worsening tide of insecurity arising from activities of Boko Haram terrorists in the North Eastern part of the country since 1999 , armed banditry  in the Northwest and by extension, lives- snuffing herders in some parts of the North Central as well as kidnappers in all parts of the federation.
While community policing strategy being proposed by the current IGP and already subscribed to , by some highly placed  state actors like the President of the Senate , Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan , requires no constitution amendments , state police on its own, requires it , by way of moving policing which is item 45 on the exclusive list of the 1999 constitution to the concurrent list .
Practically, constitution amendment  proposals to that effect in form of bills or memoranda, have always been proposed by either lawmakers themselves or concerned Nigerians during constitution review exercise .
For example during the 8th National Assembly , the then majority leader of the House of Representatives , Hon Femi Gbajabiamila now the Speaker , sponsored a bill in 2018 for creation of State Police, the way Senator Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy President of the Senate , during the 8th Assembly sponsored a bill to that effect , which were however not given full consideration by their fellow lawmakers then .


Expectedly, with constitution amendments process , put in place at both chambers  in the current 9th Assembly,  through composition of Ad- hoc committees to that effect , requests  for moving policing from the exclusive list to the concurrent list , are being made at both chambers either through bills sponsorship by serving lawmakers like Senators Ike Ekweremadu , Stella Oduah amongst others, or memoranda to the Constitution review committee by groups such as the Coalition of Federalists for Good Governance in Nigeria ( CFGG) , the Middle Belt Congress ( MBC) , the Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN) etc .


But constitution amendments proposals for enhancement of the Nation’s security architecture , particularly at the grassroots ,took another dimension last week at the Senate leadership  in form of revisiting the 1976 Local Government Reforms .
Specifically , both the President of the Senate , Ahmad Lawan and the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi ( APC Kebbi North) , called for inclusion of traditional rulers in the admiration of local government as it was before the 1976 local government reform , which removed them from governance at the grassroots with attendant vacuum in the area of credible intelligence gathering at that level for proactive measures against crimes and criminalities by relevant security agencies , especially the Police.


Lawan in making the proposal in his remarks after conferment of Ganuwan Kebbi title on him by the Emir of Argungun, Alhaji Muhammad Mera at the National Assembly , bemoaned the removal of traditional rulers from governance , particularly at the local government councils in 1976 .
He said : ” The  traditional fathers have always been supportive of government. We from the northern part of the country know that in the past that the traditional rulership played a very key stabilizing role in administration which is highly needed now .
” In fact, we need to have a proper formal role given role to  them and more especially with the current security situation in the country .


” I am sure that the traditional rulers can provide a lot of support for government and security agencies in fighting snd winning the insecurity challenges that we have today”.
Fielding questions from journalists on the problem of insecurity in the country at the sideline of the ceremony, the Leader of the Senate , Senator Yahaya Abdullahi ( APC Kebbi North), said the 1976 local government reforms laid the unfortunate foundation , particularly in the North .
According to him, as far as intelligence gathering and required mechanism of  fighting  crime at the grassroots are concerned in the North , traditional rulers and by extension, the various Emirates , are the best bet .


He explained that before the 1976 local government reform, rates of crime and criminalities in the North , were low because of active roles played by traditional rulers then .
His words: ” Unfortunately the 1976 local government reform removed the traditional rulers from active role in governance at the grassroots and invariably created vacuum for effective intelligence gathering which has snowballed into big problem of insecurity in the entire North today as regards Boko Haram , Armed banditry , herders and farmers clashes  etc .
“There is need to restore their role because there can’t be vacuum in power if you divest a group of people of required  power or responsibilities, those unexpected will  rush to fill the vacuum as it is the case in the North now .
” Fortunately , the process of constitution amendment is ongoing, which serves as required opportunity  for stakeholders  in the  country , to fashion out constitutional role for  traditional rulers at the local government level”.
However as multiple as solutions – driven proposals for tackling the problem of insecurity in the land are , the question is , will the  needful be  done by both the federal and state lawmakers through required constitution amendments to that effect, or end up with cosmetic exercise as has been the case since the 5th National Assembly when such attempts started .Time will definitely tell.

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