Senate, Service Chiefs in 4hr meeting

The Senate, on Wednesdays, quizzed Service Chiefs and heads of other security agencies in the country for over four hours.

While the Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olanisakin and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura appeared in person, other Service Chiefs and heads of security agencies, were represented by unnamed senior officers.

Asides Olanisakin and Daura, others invited were the Inspector-General of Police, Comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigration Service and Comptroller-General of Customs.

At the end of the grilling which was held behind closed doors, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, revealed part of what transpired behind.

He said security chiefs blamed the escalating challenges on lack of operational funds to carry out their activities.

To his end, Saraki said the Senate will fast track any pending bills or protocols before the chamber that will assist in the fight against crimes and terrorism.

He also revealed that the Senate, in the next two weeks, will approve an emergency security budget to cater for financial challenges faced by security agencies in the country.

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Saraki in his remarks, said: “The Senate in a Committee of the Whole, received briefs from the Chief of Defence Staff, the Director General of the Department of State Services, representatives of the Comptroller General, Immigration, Inspector General of Police, Comptroller General of Customs, on the proliferation of dangerous firearms, spate of killings by terrorists and kidnapping by hoodlums across the country.

“Thereafter, they answered questions from Distinguished senators bordering on security, insurgency, terrorism, kidnapping and other top national security matters.

“On the whole, the Senate directed that on our part, certain outstanding bills or protocols that needed to be given a fast track should be addressed immediately to see that they can be passed as soon as possible in order to strengthen the security architecture.

“Second, of course is the funding issue. We also agreed that there should be a special funding, and so we have given them two weeks for which to present their own budget on this area of special funding that we think will go a long way to improve the security situation in the country.

“Of course, of great concern is the issue of coordination among the security agencies. On that, again we will be looking at how through passage of laws, what we can do to strengthen that aspect of the security.

“By and large, we are committed to ensuring that this unfortunate trend of killings is brought to an end. And we all agreed to continue to work together, to cooperate, doing our work very closely to address these issues, and we are confident that change will begin to be seen in this area.

“We have our own role to play and they have also committed to play their own role and we hope that over the next couple of weeks, we will begin to take actions on some of these things that we have committed to. It shows how committed in showing that we do protect the life and property of citizens.”

By Ehisuan Odia…

 

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