The Clerk of the National Assembly, CNA, Amos Olatunde Ojo, on Monday underscored the need for Nigerians to support the Security Agencies in the bid to tackle the ravaging security challenges across the country.
Ojo gave the charge in Abuja while delivering the opening remarks at the two-day Retreat on National Security Legislative Reform for Senate Committee Members and other stakeholders organised by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.
The CNA, who expressed grave concern over the escalation of the insecurity through social media, stressed the need to put relevant legislation in place to strengthen the country’s security architecture.
He stressed that the retreat was organised in furtherance of activities undertaken to address issues relating to the overlapping mandates of Security Agencies in Nigeria.
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 inter-agency rivalry have far-reaching implications on national security and exacerbate 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 the circulation of texts, pictures, and videos.
“It is our duty as citizens to support our Security Agencies and not to escalate situations through social media. These counter-productive challenges 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.”
Ojo expressed optimism that the retreat would “grant us the opportunity to reflect on our experiences and harvest the best of suggestions and recommendations that would strengthen our sincere efforts through these Bills in a bid to reform our national security.”
