…Express Confidence In NSA, Army, Police, Others
One of the formidable civil society networks in Nigeria and the diaspora, saddled with the responsibility of promoting accountability, transparency and good governance, Coalition of Civil Society Networks, CCSN, has staged peaceful protests to the National Assembly, Abuja, over the spate of insecurity across the country.
The Coordinator of the coalition, Comrade Zakari Hashimu stated that the reason for the protest include the scrapping of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and working out a complete and an effective reform that would make the outfit meet up with the global standard of fighting crime.
Reading a press statement to the media, Comrade Hashimu said that the exercise was yet another solidarity protest to demand for the immediate reform of the NSCDC, in line with global best practices and standard, saying that the way the outfit is constituted now cannot achieve the aim of its establishment.
Reminding that “on the 5th of October, we took a similar peaceful protest to the headquarters of the NSCDC, demanding for the immediate sack of the Commandant and the institution of proper reforms of the NSCDC under his stewardship,” Hashimu added, “And today, we are here at the National Assembly, Abuja, to present before distinguished and honourable members of the National Assembly the need to scrap and reform the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The statement further read, “Worried by the current insecurity in the country, the Federal Government should commence moves in amending the Act setting up the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC. There has been a public perception on the conflicting roles of the Nigerian Police and NSCDC and this outcry by the citizenry calls for the immediate reform and amendment of the of NSCDC Act.”
Hashimu averred that security is critical to the stability and development of any nation, and in response to the multifaceted security challenges besetting Nigeria, both the Federal Government and the National Assembly should work together and look forward to a possible amendment of the NSCDC Act, to enable it achieve its core mandate of protecting critical national infrastructure and clearly spell out the similarities in the security roles played by the NSCDC and the police to curb the occurrence of clashes between the two.
The Coalition also urged the Ministry of Interior to ensure that there is a synergy between the NSCDC and the Police while performing their official duties to avoid unnecessary conflict between them, regretting that “we have witnessed two economic recessions within the period of this administration, despite the huge amount of financial support to security agencies in Nigeria!”
The National Security Adviser, NSA, was also tasked, to as a matter of urgent actions summit necessary recommendations and advise the President appropriately on the outcry by Nigerians to scrap and reform the NSCDC.
Hashimu said, “How can a security organization like the NSCDC publicly display arms purchased to fight against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other social related crimes? This action clearly shows that the NSCDC is incapacitated and lacks professionalism to fight crimes.”
Hashimu therefore seized the opportunity of the media parley to call the attention of the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari not to make himself or his office available to some name droppers, whose antics is boasting in public domain that they are in his caucus and are untouchable and so can do anything and go away with it, reminding that the country is bigger than any individual.
“It is no doubt that the NSCDC has not been effectively delivering on its responsibilities to Nigerians since its establishment, despite the huge financial support it has received from President Buhari and previous administrations, despite adequate budgetary allocations to enable it effectively and diligently discharge its statutory mandate under established Act 3 of 2003 with numerous security responsibilities.
“It is against this backdrop that we strongly move for the removal of the NSCDC and call for proper investigation into recruitments processes in NSCDC, regarding alleged job racketeering in recruitments exercise in the recent times in most Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, where money is used in getting appointment letters has become normal.
“We thank President Buhari for his relentless pursuit and support to security agencies. This has however demonstrated the President’s willingness to address the rising security challenges confronting us as a nation.”
Concluding, the Coalition thereby passed a vote of confidence on the NSA and the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, for their gallantry and efforts in promoting dialogue, peace and stability in the country and appealed to President Buhari to double resources for the Nigerian Police Force.
Hashimu added, “We equally pass similar vote of confidence on other sister security agencies like the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Nigerian Army. We would equally take similar solidarity protest to the Ministry of Interior to register our position and we shall continue to work under this platform of Coalition of Civil Society Network to ensure that Nigeria succeeds in her quest to restore the confidence the system has lost in the Nigerian youths”
