…leadership working to address concerns — Barau
There was visible anger in the Senate on Wednesday after Senator Abdul Ningi raised a point of order protesting the withdrawal of his only police orderly, despite what he described as the continued enjoyment of security escorts by ministers, business executives, children of political office holders and even musicians.
President Bola Tinubu had on November 23 ordered the withdrawal of police officers providing security for Very Important Persons (VIPs) in the country for redeployment to core police duties.
According to the Presidential directive, VIPs who want police protection will now request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Ningi, who came under Order 42 at plenary, said the enforcement of President Tinubu’s directive on reducing police attachment to VIPs must be applied “across the board” and not targeted at lawmakers alone.
“It should be done across the board. Let’s see what happens from the office of the President, to the Vice President, to the Senate President, to the Speaker of the House, to the Ministers,” he said. “Mr. President, I’m coming after they have withdrawn my only orderly.”
The lawmaker said what he had witnessed in recent days was a blatant violation of the same directive used to justify stripping him of his only security aide, questioning why the National Assembly should be “the scapegoat.”
“I saw two convoys of ministers and they were carrying lots of security personnel. Mr. President, I have also seen business persons, Chinese and other business persons, yesterday, with their compliments of orderlies.
“Mr. President, I have also seen daughters and sons of political office holders having orderlies and having security covers. Mr. President, I have seen singers having orderlies and complimentary protection. I cannot ever imagine that a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who has been here for a very long time, only one orderly, and he’s withdrawn, and nothing will happen,” he lamented.
Ningi insisted that he had no objection to the policy if it was implemented fairly. “But let it be done across the board,” he stated. “I can take care of myself. But let me not see governors, ministers, and business concerns being covered by security establishment… This is unheard of in any democracy.”
He urged the Senate President to mandate the Committee on Police Affairs to investigate why the directive was being selectively enforced.
“You cannot just put National Assembly as a scapegoat and others enjoy the privileges of security control. I so submit, Mr. President,” he concluded.
Presiding over the session, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau acknowledged the concerns, saying the Senate leadership had already discussed the matter on Tuesday and taken steps expecting results “today.”
“Thank you, Senator Abdul Ningi. As usual of you… when you have issues like this, you come to me and we get that sorted out,” Barau said. “Yesterday… we had a leadership meeting. This was discussed, and we took an action.”
He confirmed that the Senate was not only addressing the withdrawal of senators’ orderlies but also probing the alleged flouting of President Tinubu’s directive by privileged individuals.
“In respect of the fact that the directive of Mr. President has been flouted… the singers, businessmen, and what have you, having policemen, the Chairman of the Police Affairs Committee should take up this matter, conduct a proper investigation, and let us know why,” he directed.
Barau defended the President’s decision, saying it was taken “in good faith” to strengthen the police for internal security operations. He, however, assured Ningi and other senators that their concerns were being treated as a priority.
“The leadership side yesterday agreed that the course of action should be undertaken in order to restore your police orderly to you, because it’s in line with international practice,” he said.
“And I’m sure we have a listening President. He will listen to us, and by the grace of God, he will send us from that order, which was given in good faith… We all stand by Mr. President in his effort to deal with the security problem in our country.”
Barau stressed that the Senate leadership had already moved to resolve the issue. “The matter has been addressed,” he assured. “Thank you very much, Senator Ningi, for your observation.”
– SUN