Be up and doing, Reps tell security agencies

The House of Representatives Committee on Defence has called on the security agencies to be up and doing.

According to the committee, the security agencies should be as open as possible to the legislature.

The chairman of the committee, Babajimi Benson, in a statement yesterday, said the committee would ensure transparency and accountability in the spending of funds allocated for defence and the fight against insecurity.

He said the security agencies in the country must live up to their constitutional responsibilities.

“We are not unmindful of the enormous tasks ahead of us and the high expectations of Nigerians on us. We have no reason not to deliver. We must get things right as far as security is concerned in this country. We acknowledge that the military needs the support of every sector of the society and we all, from traditional rulers, the media, and citizens, have a critical role to play in assisting the country achieve a secured society,” he said.

He asked the security agencies to cooperate with the committee, saying “We are here to work for Nigerians, to ensure the protection of their lives and property..

“On our part, we will work assiduously to ensure that all the operational needs of the security agencies are met through adequate budgetary provisions. This is a new era, and Nigerians will not accept anything less than good results from us all.

“We will also ensure adequate and attentive oversight, especially of the 2019 budget so that we can evaluate the progress of work for ourselves and come up with the necessary ways of improving things as we prepare to receive the 2020 budget.”