The Senate has again summoned service chiefs to appear before it next week and proffer lasting solutions to the widespread insecurity in the country.
The invitation followed a motion titled “Spate of Insecurity in Nigeria,” sponsored by all 109 senators during yesterday’s plenary.
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Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who presented the motion, said: “The Senate notes with sadness the rising spate of killings, kidnappings, banditry, and other criminal activities in the nation.”
The Red Chamber, thereafter, resolved to invoke its earlier resolutions to invite the security chiefs for an interactive session with a view to addressing the menace.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said the outcome of the meeting would be discussed with President Bola Tinubu for prompt implementation.
Similarly, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has urged the President not to shy away from making tough decisions.
Speaking at the resumption of plenary after the Christmas and New Year break yesterday, Abbas observed that though the Nigerian leader had displayed exemplary leadership and adopted a proactive approach to security matters, he added, however, that it was time for him to demand greater performance and accountability from the service chiefs and security agencies.
While commending the apparatuses for their heroism and sacrifice, the speaker stated, “Time has come for you to review your approaches and strategies, innovate, and adapt.”
He described Tinubu’s economic policies as steps in the right direction, adding that the legislative arm must align with the executive to ensure that the initiatives are effectively implemented and yield tangible results for Nigerians.
Abbas also disclosed the legislative priorities of the 10th House for 2024.
The priorities, according to him, include speedy consideration of electoral reforms, alteration of the 1999 Constitution, improved citizens’ engagement, enhanced oversight, institutional capacity strengthening, and greater collaboration with the executive.
He said the concern to the House was electoral reform to address grey areas in the 2022 Electoral Act with the aim of ensuring that future elections are free, fair, and credible.
Also, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has asked Tinubu to resign if he cannot tackle the menace.
He accused the president of playing fiddle while the country is drowning in insecurity.
Wazirin Adamawa, in an X (Twitter) post yesterday, stated: “If the shoes are too big for Emilokan, he should step aside. Nigeria does not need another Tourist-in-Chief,” adding, “The country needs 24/7 leadership to confront the pervasive insecurity and collapsing economy.”
He added: “Imagining the Commander-in-Chief was on a so-called private visit, while kidnappers kill a nursing mother and grandmother in Abuja for failing to pay N90 million ransom and two monarchs in Ekiti, among other regular tragedies besetting Nigerians.”
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