The Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Mr. Amos Ojo, has called on Nigerians to support security agencies to tackle the security challenges across the country.
The CNA gave the charge in Abuja on Monday, while delivering the opening remarks at a two-day retreat on National Security Legislative Reform for Senate Committee members, organised by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS).
Ojo expressed concern over the escalation of security challenges through the social media, adding that there was need to put relevant legislations in place that would strengthen the country’s security architecture.
He said that the social media was having a field day, feasting on such conflicts, especially inter-agency rivalries witnessed among security personnel, arising from circulation of texts, pictures and videos.
The CNA said that it was the duty of citizens to support security agencies and not to escalate situations through the social media.
He said such counter-productive challenges needed the citizenry’s continuous attention or it may worsen.
Ojo added that deliberate efforts and resources were required to amend all existing incongruous legislations and make provisions that would eliminate counter-productivity and ensure inter-agency collaboration.
The retreat was organised in furtherance of activities undertaken to address issues relating to the overlapping mandates of security agencies in the country.
Ojo said, “The consequences of inter-agency rivalry have far-reaching implications on national security and exacerbates the already existing security challenges confronting the country.
“The findings of KAS showed more light on intricacies associated with some laws guiding the operations of security agencies, which include overlap of functions, unclear delineation of functions.”
Others according to him, are conflicting description of conditions and guidelines for collaboration between security agencies.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that a study conducted by KAS in 2020, revealed that the duplication of duties and lack of proper coordination often lead to inter-agency rivalry among security agencies.
