Paramilitary Board: Reps C’ttee Chairmen grill Aregbesola

……Want explanation for one governing board

By Christiana Ekpa

House Majority Leader, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa and some chairmen of relevant committees of the House has sought explanations from the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on why the Federal Government is proposing to bring all major paramilitary agencies in the country under one governing board.

The lawmakers who played host to the Interior Minister are currently in the process of passing a proposed Bill from the Executive seeking to create the new board.

According to the House Leader who presided over the meeting, it was “necessary for them to seek the explanation on some provisions of the proposed amendment in particular why the Ministry wants all these large entities put under one board.

“And another provision in the bill is seeking the appointment of four commissioners for the board which in our view could be a financial burden on governments purse”, Doguwa told the visiting Minister.

The Minister who was accompanied by some management staff of the Ministry had earlier told the lawmakers that the amendment of the Nigeria immigration and prisons board act is to enable inclusion of civil defence and the federal fire service.

The aim he added is to “align the functions and structure of the organisations”.

“This meeting is in respect of an executive bill seeking amendment to the Nigeria Immigration and Prisons Governing Board, to bring the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp and the Federal Fire Service under the purview of the Board to conform with related laws and practices,” he said.

The Bill also covers matters of recruitment, promotion, remunerations, discipline and regurgitations respectively.

The lawmakers however assured the Minister that the House leadership would be briefed accordingly, with a view to making informed decision on the report of the committee by the House.