Amid the state of insecurity caused by multiple crimes, banditry and spate of kidnappings across the country, the Senate has passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu and the members of the National Security Council (NSC).
The members of the Council include the President (Chairman), Vice President (Vice Chairman), Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief of Staff to the President, National Security Adviser, Defence Minister, Chief of the Defence Staff and Service Chiefs (Chief of the Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of the Air Staff), Inspector General of Police, Director General (DG) of Department of State Security (DSS), DG of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and four other Ministers.
Speaking at the end of the closed door session that lasted for 9 hours from 12. 29 and ended 9pm, with the service chiefs, heads of security agencies, the National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Ministers, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio who noted that the Senate was impressed with their determination and focus, however urged them to do more to ensure security of lives.
Akpabio said: “The security chiefs and NSA answered questions bordering on security matters. The Senate commended Mr. President on his efforts to protect security of lives and property. Senate also commended Service Chiefs and urged them to follow all the suggestions and revelations and use them for future actions.
“We commend the Security Chiefs and particularly point out that the Interior Minister should use a unified system of identification, that will be a better thing for Nigerians. For the security chiefs, we assure you if not just the support of Senate, but the National Assembly. We pass vote of confidence on the Service Chiefs.”
Those in the meeting on Tuesday were Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi.
Others are the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Finance and Coordinating for the Economy, Dr. Olawale Edun, Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam and Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.
Addressing journalists at the end of meeting, Chairman, Senate on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, APC, Ekiti South said that the Senate got assurances from the Service Chiefs on border patrols as they must be manned seriously.
He said: “Today, we listened to them, we related with them, they allayed our fears and answer our questions satisfactorily. When we asked questions from Interior Minister on how to apprehend criminals through standardization of identities of Nigerians, we got assurances of border patrols that they must be manned seriously.
“The Finance Minister assured that funds will be released expeditiously to Service Chiefs. We got that pledge. We even suggested inviting the Minister of Justice so that we can get speedy trials of criminals. With what we heard today, we got assurances that Nigerians will heave a sigh of relief.”
A source noted that the issue of synergy was really discussed as the NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was said to have told the Senators that there was a great improvement compared to what was obtained in the past, assuring that there will be good development at the end of the day.
Vanguard also gathered that the issue of releases was discussed at length in order to nip in the bud, the security challenges in the country, just as the Senators were said to have asked the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun why the short releases and where the money was going to against the backdrop that money is accruing to the government with the removal of fuel subsidy.
A source told Vanguard that Akpabio has mandated the relevant Committees to do a follow up on the issue of releases and report back.
Earlier, the Senate had stood down every business in Tuesday’s Order Paper to brainstorm with the members of the National Security Council Team at plenary, just as it has resolved to go into a closed door session
The motion to admit the CDS and the Service Chiefs and the National Security Adviser, was moved at 12.33pm by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, APC, Ekiti Central and supported by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, PDP, Benue South.
The Service Chiefs started coming into the hallowed Chamber at 12.37pm, and the Senate entered into a closed door session to discuss with the Service Chiefs at 12.49pm following a motion by Opeyemi Bamidele and supported by Abba Moro.
Recall that the Senate had two weeks ago summoned for a meeting last Tuesday, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt – General Taoheed Lagbaj; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Hassan Abubakar; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Director General of Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
The meeting, however, didn’t hold as the NSA and the Chief of Defence Staff were absent.
The Senate President had stated that the Senate preferred to have a robust team including that of the economic team.
The meeting was thereafter postponed to Tuesday while the invitation was extended to the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawale, Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Geidam, Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Ibrahim, Minister of Interior, Hon Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, Minister of Finance, Olawale Edun and Director General of National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
On receiving the guests, Akpabio welcomed them and also thanked the Security chiefs for honouring the invite of the Senate last Tuesday.
@Vanguard News
