ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Concerned by the escalating insecurity nationwide, the House of Representatives will host a national dialogue on state policing today, Monday, April 22,2024.
Vice President Kashmi Shettima, alongside two former Nigerian leaders and top security chiefs, will lead discussions at the one-day event, set to take place at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and former President Goodluck Jonathan will deliver special remarks, joined by key figures including Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa, and Minister of Police Affairs, Sen. (Dr.) Ibrahim Geidam.
Expected speakers also include representatives from various sectors such as the Nigeria Governors Forum, British High Commission, German Embassy, and United Nations Development Programme.
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The event aims to gather public and expert input on the State Police bill, which has advanced to the House’s second reading. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas will deliver the keynote address, emphasizing the House’s commitment to security sector reform and legislative interventions.
In a statement, Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, reiterated the Speaker’s vision for enhancing security through legislative measures, emphasizing the importance of inter-agency collaboration and police reforms.
Krishi quote the Speaker as saying that, “In the area of security, the most important challenge before us is to overhaul and strengthen the security architecture to improve overall effectiveness. The proposed security summit is expected to make far-reaching recommendations and concrete areas for legislative intervention.
“Some priority legislative actions in our Agenda include improving oversight of the sector, legislating the establishment of a Security Sector Reform Commission to oversee reforms within the sector, introducing stricter penalties for misappropriation, misallocation or any form of financial malpractice within the security sector and passing the whistle-blower protection bill.”
“We are committed to strengthening inter-agency collaboration, improving intelligence sharing, and leading police reforms”.