Following the persistent killings across the country, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Tuesday vowed that the Senate will continue to hold the Federal Government accountable.
He said the aim was to ensure the security of all Nigerians.
He said this while addressing his colleagues as they resumed plenary on the floor of the upper legislative chambers.
Saraki also assured Nigerians that the senate will collaborate with security agencies to ensure adequate security across the country.
According to Saraki, “Distinguished colleagues, the foregoing represents something of a recap of the journey so far, and also, in a sense, maps out the challenges ahead of us, which we must face head-on. We are resuming plenary today under a pall of national anxiety and apprehension over the state of insecurity in the country. We have been alarmed at so many senseless killings of Nigerians, with the high number of casualties in Plateau being among the most egregious of late.
“In the wake of the atrocity, I led a Senate delegation to pay a condolence visit to the Governor of Plateau State and to commiserate with the people of the state. As always, our sympathies are with those who have lost loved ones in these acts of barbarity, and we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring peace and security in our country.
“As you all know, we held a Security Summit some months back, specifically to address the rising insecurity and to work out strategies in collaboration with security agencies on safeguarding Nigerian lives. Furthermore, we set up the Ad-Hoc Committee on the Review of Security Infrastructure in Nigeria, chaired by Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan; and we must now take steps to consider the Report of that committee and take forward the recommendations therein as may be appropriate. Events have shown that we were right to take these steps in response to the security challenges facing the nation at this time.
“Let me reassure Nigerians that we are as concerned as they are in the face of this challenge; and we continue to hold government accountable, in order to see to improvement in this area. In addition to the Security Summit earlier mentioned, we held briefings with Security Chiefs in a bid to better understand the problems; and have urged them to table their requests for more funds, so that the legislature can work on that aspect as well, to better equip the security forces to protect lives and property.
“Through our oversight functions, we can ensure the proper utilization of such funds and see to it that we have full accountability in the management of the current security crisis.
“I must say, once again, that the responsibility for ensuring security rests with each and every one of us. Issues of criminality are involved in these heinous acts, and the vigilance of community leaders and the average citizen is crucial, to assist the security agencies do their job. For us as the Senate, it does seem that these issues are also an indication that it is time to revisit the issue of State Police; and to devise a framework for the mopping up of the 350 million pieces of light weapons estimated to be in circulation within our borders – an alarming ratio of three weapons to one person.”
