Bill to Include N’Assembly Presiding Officers in NSC Passes Second Reading

A bill seeking to amend the third schedule of the 1999 Constitution as amended to include presiding officers of the National Assembly in composition of the National Security Council (NSC) has passed the second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives.

The third schedule of the National Security Council stipulates that the Council shall have power to advise the president on matters relating to public security, including matters relating to any organisation or agency established by law to ensure the security of the federation.

It states that the members shall comprise the following: the President who shall be the Chairman; the Vice-President who shall be the Deputy Chairman; the Chief of Defence

Staff; the Ministers of Interior, Defence, and Foreign Affairs; the National Security Adviser; the Inspector-General of Police; and such other persons as the president may in his discretion appoint.

However, at the plenary yesterday, the bill sponsored by Hon. Odebunmi Olusegun, appreciated the strategic importance of the legislative arm of government in any democratic society being the only major difference between democracy and any other forms of government.

He noted that among the functions of the legislature is to make laws for good governance of the country, wherein good governance itself has security of life and property as one of its determinants.

Odebunmi said information is power, hence, the need for parliament to be well informed in the area of security.