During the week, the Senate postponed its scheduled engagement with heads of various security agencies, as part of efforts to address the nation’s persistent insecurity.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, presiding over the plenary session, announced the decision to defer the briefing to the following Tuesday at 11 am. Akpabio stated that the upper legislative chamber intended to broaden the scope of the briefing to include additional key government officials.
The revised list of participants for the briefing now includes the National Security Adviser (NSA); Chiefs of Defence Staff, Army, Navy, and Air Force; Minister of Defence and Minister of State, Defence; Minister of Interior; Director-General of the DSS; Minister of Police Affairs and the Minister of State; Minister of Finance; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency.
A lawmaker, extensively speaking to Saturday Sun, revealed that the Senate had conducted closed-door sessions to deliberate on the nation’s state, particularly its security challenges. The legislator emphasized that the existing security architecture is insufficient to address the evolving dynamics of insecurity in the 21st century.
Highlighting the need for constitutional and legislative interventions to align with modern realities, the lawmaker stated, “The security architecture is weak.
The President can do something, but he’s limited. Some of the things that need to be done require our intervention as lawmakers.
We’ve taken up the challenge to play our part.”
The legislator disclosed that the closed-door sessions led to the decision to summon heads of security agencies, emphasizing the importance of hearing directly from them.
The outcome is expected to be a comprehensive and modern blueprint in the form of resolutions and legislations, which the Senate leadership will present to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu confirmed the development, assuring that no effort would be spared during the deliberations with heads of security agencies.
He highlighted that addressing inter-agency rivalry and other critical components within the security sector would be a key focus.
Adaramodu stated, “We invited all heads of security agencies.
We had to postpone it because two important heads were absent. That’s the NSA and the Chief of Defence Staff.
They’ll return next week. After the interface with them, we’ll come up with a document on recommendations and how to restructure the security architecture of the country. That’s the plan.”
Responding to an inquiry, Director of Defence Information Brig-General Tukur Gusau succinctly stated, “We are working perfectly well with the National Assembly.”
