The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has announced that the parliament intends to conduct a thorough review of the existing laws that govern security agencies in the country. The objective of this review is to streamline and put an end to the rivalry that exists among these agencies, ultimately improving the fight against insecurity in Nigeria.
Hon. Abbas made this announcement through the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, who represented him at a retreat titled “Promoting Cooperation and Collaboration for Effective Legislation and Oversight of the Security Sector in Nigeria”. The retreat, organized by KONRAD and the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, took place in Lagos.
The Speaker expressed his recognition and commendation for the sacrifices made by the security organizations. However, he also stressed the importance of acknowledging the challenges posed by inter-agency rivalry and the lack of cooperation among them. These issues significantly undermine the ability to effectively address the precarious security situation in the country.
According to the Speaker, “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.”
In light of these circumstances, the legislature believes it is crucial to review and streamline the laws governing security agencies in Nigeria. By doing so, areas of conflict can be reduced, and synergy and collaboration among these organizations can be promoted. This, in turn, will enable better responses to the evolving security threats facing the nation.
The Speaker also emphasized the need to strengthen legislative and oversight functions to ensure that security agencies are well-equipped, well-trained, and accountable to the Nigerian people. The purpose of the retreat is to equip legislators with the necessary skills and capacity to conduct oversight of the security sector and improve legislation in this regard.
“Effective legislation is the cornerstone of a robust security sector. As lawmakers, it is our responsibility to enact laws that provide 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,” stated the Speaker.
Abbas further emphasized the importance of parliamentary oversight in ensuring the effectiveness of the security sector. Oversight allows for the assessment of the performance of security agencies, identification of gaps or shortcomings, and the recommendation of necessary reforms. It should be proactive, independent, and objective, focusing not only on financial accountability but also on operational effectiveness, adherence to professional standards, and respect for human rights.
“We must deploy the necessary legislative measures to foster synergy and cooperation among our security organizations. The rationale behind promoting inter-agency collaboration lies in the ability to pool resources and expertise. Each security agency possesses distinct capabilities and knowledge that can be harnessed to enhance overall effectiveness. By working together, agencies can combine their strengths, exchange information, and coordinate efforts to achieve shared objectives. This collaborative approach enables a more comprehensive understanding of security threats and facilitates the development of effective strategies to counter them,” emphasized Abbas.
