The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Internal Security, Hon. Garba Muhammad, on Tuesday expressed concern over security breaches in the National Assembly and revealed threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly.
Hon. Muhammad, who was giving a remark in Abuja during a public hearing for an Act to provide for the establishment and the functions for legislative security directorate in the National Assembly, which seeks to provide the qualification and condition of service of the Sergeant-At-Arms and other personnel in the Directorate and for other related matters, underscored the need for effective security measures in the National Assembly amidst myriad of security threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly Complex and protesters to lock up the National Assembly complex.
He however did not give the time they received the threat.
According to him, “Security is very crucial to all Arms of Government, especially to the Legislative Arm because it is an Institution where Legislators, Staff, Executive, Judiciary, individuals, Organizations, Protesters, Demonstrators, and many more troop into on a daily basis in their droves to pursue one thing or the other.
“Due to this daily massive influx of people into the Parliament, criminals seek and attempt to take advantage of the situation to infiltrate in order to conduct their dubious behaviors.
“The National Assembly is going through a lot of security challenges; we have experienced car thefts, motorcycle thefts, vandalism, fake identity cards, unwanted visitors accessing the National Assembly without documentation, petty trading which makes the National Assembly look like a small market.
“We have received threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly Complex and threats from protesters to lock up the National Assembly. Legislators are exposed to threats from constituents and others who gained easy access into their offices without any formal appointment.
“It is obvious that with the ongoing security challenges, if proper measures are not taken, it will truncate the legislative activities in the National Assembly, and if the activities are thwarted, there will be no Representation, no Oversight, no Annual Budget, no Plenary at all, and that will destabilize legislative procedure, democracy and the stability of the system, and our Nation at large.
“Effective security management needs a total approach that requires various elements to be integrated together in order to secure our environment for legislative procedure to function effectively and maximally.
“That is why this Bill is very important, because it seeks to address all the challenges as aforesaid and adopt world best practices of parliamentary security procedures and architecture.
“In conclusion, the need for effective security measures in the National Assembly cannot be overemphasized. This is because Parliament has to be accessible to the public in order to uphold democratic values, making it difficult to implement stringent security measures without affecting others’ interest.
“However, this Bill is committed to ensuring the best security architecture in the National Assembly, to protect Legislators, Staff, Visitors and Property.
“I also want to admonish our States House of Assembly to imbibe the same.”
Also speaking, a Deputy Director with the Policy and Legislative Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Ms. Omolara Akinyeye, expressed the centre’s support for the bill.
Ms. Akinyeye said that the bill, if passed, would address the age-long challenges of insecurity bedeviling the National Assembly.
Earlier, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, on Tuesday reiterated commitment to strengthening the National Assembly’s internal security architecture aimed at enhancing seamless legislative activities.
While emphasizing the need to strengthen the internal security architecture of the National Assembly, the Speaker, who was represented by the Chief Whip, Hon. Bello Kumo, reaffirmed the importance of a secured National Assembly, saying it would create an enabling environment for hitch-free legislative activities.
He also described the bill as a roadmap to improving Nigeria’s democracy through a guaranteed protection of lawmakers and other personnel in the National Assembly.
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