Abuja: Lawmakers to convene security summit

Gloria Essien, Abuja

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The House of Representatives says it will soon convene a National Legislative Security Summit to address insecurity in Nigeria

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas disclosed this in his speech at the resumption of plenary of the House.

“This Summit will serve as a crucible for ideas, where stakeholders from diverse sectors – security, traditional and religious institutions, academia, civil society, and more – will forge enduring solutions to our security woes. It is time to harness our collective expertise, to break the silos that have hindered our progress, and to chart a new course towards peace and stability. This aligns with our constitutional mandate as parliament to enact laws that strengthen our security framework, allocate resources wisely, and provide the oversight necessary to ensure our strategies are well-intentioned, effective, and accountable. I charge all the relevant security-based Committees of this House to engage with the security chiefs on some of the most immediate measures and resources needed to improve security across the country”. The Speaker said.

He decried the hardships experienced by families and communities due to insecurity.

“Indeed, Nigeria stands at a crucial juncture, facing formidable challenges that test our resolve, unity, and spirit. The threats of insurgency are severely testing the peace and stability of our country, the rise in kidnapping for ransom and the unsettling unrest and crises across all the six geo-political zones. Families and communities have endured immense hardships, and our hearts go out to all those affected by these tumultuous events. We are particularly saddened by the tragic and senseless murder of our daughters, Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar and Folorunsho Ariyo, the heinous murder of over 30 people in Plateau State, as well as many others who have fallen victim to the mindless acts of terror in the last few weeks. We also remember those who lost their lives in the blast in Ibadan triggered by explosives stored by illegal miners. Despite numerous security measures, this menace continues to thrive, mocking our efforts and challenging our resolve to build a cohesive, peaceful and prosperous nation. It is a stark reminder that the conventional approaches to security we have espoused for so long are no longer sufficient. The time has come to think out of the box and adopt new and contemporary strategies that better respond to the complexities of our current challenges.”

The Speaker lauded the patriotism and bravery of security forces, as well as their heroism and sacrifice,s

“The time has come for you to review your approaches and strategies, innovate and adapt. The enemy evolves, and so must we. I challenge you to rise to this occasion, to demonstrate the indomitable spirit for which you are known, and to do more in safeguarding the lives and properties of our people.” Abbas said.

On countering terrorism, the speaker said that the House would work with the Office of the National Security Adviser to strengthen the Anti-terrorism Act to provide guidelines for the prosecution of suspects.

“Other areas for legislative action include finalising the domesticating of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons and Ammunition to curb the proliferation of small arms in Nigeria and amend the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 to tackle emerging threats and protect critical national infrastructure; adopt legislative measures that promote economic opportunities in the geo-political zones most affected by insecurity. We are committed to strengthening inter-agency collaboration, improving intelligence sharing, and leading police reforms. 

Our Agenda has identified concrete measures for economic restructuring, economic diversification, and agricultural development. All Committees are directed to streamline their activities towards the realisation of our strategic objectives. The Committee on the Implementation of Legislative Agenda and the Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation of the Activities of Standing and ad-hoc Committees should ensure that committees and their outputs are in line with the Agenda of the House.“

He announced that the House Sectoral Briefs with parastatals would resume immediately.

“Accordingly, we shall engage with MDAs and principal actors in the finance sector on Tuesday, 6th February, 2024. This engagement will assess the nation’s readiness to mobilise the necessary financial resources for implementing the budget.

“This new year, 2024, holds great significance in our democratic journey as a nation. It marks 25 years of unbroken democratic governance since 1999. This milestone represents the longest period of uninterrupted democratic governance in our nation’s history. In these past two and half decades, the legislature has developed remarkably, asserting its independence and progressively holding the Executive to account. The National Assembly has also enacted high-impact laws for the order and good governance of Nigeria, represented the interests of our constituencies by ensuring that their voices are heard in this hallowed chamber, and brought their travails and difficulties to the attention of the government”.

He pointed out that President Bola Ahmad Tinubu, has exhibited exemplary leadership and a proactive approach.

“His recent interventions and directives for more action by security agencies are timely and reflective of his deep-seated resolve to restore peace and order. Indeed, the time has come for the President to demand greater performance and accountability from our service chiefs and all security and enforcement agencies. I implore the President not to shy away from making the tough decisions. If necessary, we must not hesitate to enact changes within our security apparatus, for the cost of inaction is far too great to bear.” Abbas said

On the economic front, the speaker said that Nigeria continues to grapple with numerous hurdles that impede its growth trajectory.

“Yet, amidst these challenges, there are signs of resilience and potential. The President’s economic policies, aimed at revitalizing key sectors, promoting sustainable growth, and fostering inclusive development, are steps in the right direction. We in the legislative arm must align our efforts with the Executive to ensure that these initiatives are effectively implemented and yield tangible results for every Nigerian”. He said.

The Speaker appreciated and commended members for the work the House accomplished in the first six months.

“Of immediate concern to us are electoral reforms to address grey areas in the 2022 Electoral Act. The purpose is to ensure that future elections are free, fair, and credible elections that truly reflect the people’s will. Recent data shows that 75% of gubernatorial elections conducted by INEC in 2023 ended up in the Supreme Court. A significantly higher percentage of gubernatorial, State, and National Assembly elections was litigated to the appellate level. Like all Nigerians, we are worried about the varying and conflicting judicial pronouncements which can disrupt our democratic process if not properly and swiftly addressed. For this reason, the House will constitute a special technical committee with Members drawn from the Committee on Electoral Matters, experts, academics and other stakeholders. The mandate of the Committee will be to review the Electoral Act 2022 and submit a proposal to the House on areas for amendment. The report of the Committee will be subjected to a public hearing to aggregate concrete suggestions for amendment”. 

He added that in the area of constitutional alteration, the House’s Agenda identified key areas of interest which include streamlining the procedure for constitutional alteration by enacting a Constitutional Alteration Procedure law to provide a timeline for the passage of the Constitution alteration bills by the National Assembly and adoption by State Houses of Assembly.

 

 

 

 

 

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