By Christiana Ekpa
The House of Representatives on Tuesday endorsed the redeployment of police officers assigned to VIPs for frontline security duties but insisted that serving public officials must be exempted from the withdrawal list.
This was just as the House thrown its weight behind making all security-related spending by the Federal Government a first-line charge on the national budget, as lawmakers adopted over 50 key recommendations aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security landscape.
The House resolutions were approved on Wednesday following a week-long debate on the rising insecurity across the country.
While applauding President Bola Tinubu’s recent “decisive measures” in confronting the crisis, the House endorsed the redeployment of police officers attached to VIPs for frontline duties — but insisted that serving public officials should be exempted.
A major plank of its recommendations was a call for a strengthened cashless economy. Lawmakers noted the link between cash-based transactions and funding for terrorism, banditry, ransom payments and other criminal activities. They urged the Central Bank of Nigeria and financial institutions to expand secure digital banking infrastructure, especially in rural and underserved areas.
The House also pressed for enhanced digital payment systems, improved transaction monitoring, and financial-crime analytics to be integrated into security operations.
Further recommendations include establishing new Army formations, Police divisions and Civil Defence units in volatile zones, as well as boosting security around schools, worship centres, markets and other soft targets. This, the House said, should involve better implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative with emphasis on risk assessments, perimeter protection, CCTV systems, early-warning mechanisms and community reporting.
Calling for modernisation of national security architecture, lawmakers proposed reforms in training, doctrine, technology, command structures, procurement and welfare systems. They advocated better salaries, insurance, housing, medical support and compensation for security personnel.
Additionally, the House called for a national arms and equipment tracking mechanism, featuring a unified digital inventory, periodic audit and strict accountability to prevent diversion or misuse.
The resolutions are to be transmitted to the Senate for concurrence, after which they will be forwarded to the Executive, security agencies, state governments and relevant institutions for urgent implementation in the interest of national security and public safety.
