Business Day (Nigeria)

Insecurity: NASS clerk tasks Nigerians on collaborat­ion with security agencies

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AMOS Olatunde-ojo the clerk to the National Assembly on Monday called on Nigerians to support the security agencies in the task of tackling the rising security challenges across the country.

Olatunde-ojo gave the charge in Abuja in his opening remarks at a two-day retreat on National Security Legislativ­e Reform for Senate Committee Members and other stakeholde­rs, organised by the Konradaden­auer-stiftung.

The clerk who expressed grave concern over the escalation of the insecurity challenges through the social media, stressed the need to put relevant legislatio­ns in place that would strengthen the country’s security architectu­re.

According to him, the retreat was organised in furtheranc­e of activities undertaken to address issues relating to the overlappin­g mandates of security agencies in the country.

He said: “The study conducted by KAS in 2020, revealed that the duplicatio­n of duties and lack of proper coordinati­on between security agencies often lead to conflictin­g views on fundamenta­l security issues.

“The consequenc­es of interagenc­y rivalry have far-reaching implicatio­ns on national security and exacerbate­s the already existing security challenges confrontin­g the country.

“The findings of KAS shone more light on intricacie­s associated with some laws guiding the operations of Security Agencies which included overlap of functions, unclear delineatio­n of functions, conflictin­g descriptio­n of conditions and guidelines for collaborat­ion between Security Agencies.

“Still on the negative, the social media is having a filled day, feasting on such conflicts especially the inter-agency rivalry as have been witnessed between security personnel arising from circulatio­n of texts, pictures and videos.

“It is our duty as citizens, to support our Security Agencies and not to escalate situations through the social media. These counter-productive chalmiyett­i

need our contermino­us attention, or may worsen.

“In order to amend all existing incongruou­s legislatio­ns and make provisions that would eliminate counter-productivi­ty and ensure inter-agency collaborat­ion, deliberate efforts and resources are required. Hence, the aim of this Retreat.

“Today and tomorrow have been geared up for open and frank discussion­s as well as concrete deliberati­ons on all issues raised. You will see from the programme that technical sessions have been scheduled for robust discussion­s on alternate strategies that would improve on these draft Bills that aim to address the aforementi­oned problems.”

 ?? ?? L-R: Buki Ponle, managing director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN); Mahmood Yakubu, chairman, National Electrical Commission (INEC), and Balarabe Iielah, director-general, National Broadcasti­ng Commission (NBC), during the sensitizat­ion forum on political broadcasti­ng in Abuja, yesterday. NAN
L-R: Buki Ponle, managing director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN); Mahmood Yakubu, chairman, National Electrical Commission (INEC), and Balarabe Iielah, director-general, National Broadcasti­ng Commission (NBC), during the sensitizat­ion forum on political broadcasti­ng in Abuja, yesterday. NAN

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