Reps move to strengthen National Assembly’s security architecture

The House of Representatives has reiterated its commitment to strengthening the National Assembly’s internal security architecture to enhance seamless legislative activities.

The Speaker, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, said this while declaring open a public hearing on a Bill for Internal Security by the House Committee on Internal Security, in Abuja on Tuesday.

Tajudeen, represented by the Chief Whip, Rep. Bello Kumo, emphasised the need for strengthening the internal security architecture of the national assembly.

He reaffirmed the importance of a secured national assembly, saying that it would create an enabling environment for hitch-free legislative activities.

The speaker described the bill as a roadmap to improving Nigeria’s democracy through a guaranteed protection of lawmakers and other personnel in the national assembly.

Earlier, the Chairman, House Committee on Internal Security of the national assembly, Rep. Garba Muhammad, expressed concern over security breaches in the national assembly.

Muhammad expressed regret over cases of car theft and other security breaches at the national assembly, assuring that the bill, if passed, would serve as panacea to the challenges.

“This bill reflects our shared commitment to strengthening security due to daily influx of people into the parliament,” he said.

According to him, the bill is seeking to replicate a globally-accepted practice of addressing internal insecurity.

Also speaking, a Deputy Director with Policy and Legislative Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Ms Omolara Akinyeye, expressed the centre’s support for the bill.

Akinyeye said that the bill, if passed, would address the age-long security challenges at the national assembly.

NAN reports that the bill is entitled: A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment and the functions for legislative security directorate in the National Assembly.

It aims to provide the qualifications and conditions of service of the Sergeant-at-Arms and other personnel in the directorate and for related matters.