Federal Government To Examine Roles Of Police, DSS, Others In New Review

The Federal Government, on Wednesday, inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Committee to examine the roles, mandates and operations of key security and para-military agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as part of efforts to streamline Nigeria’s security architecture.

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The committee was inaugurated in Abuja by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, who said the initiative was designed to curb the growing proliferation of federal, state and quasi-government security outfits across the country.

Akume, represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, said the increasing number of security and auxiliary agencies had created challenges related to duplication of roles, jurisdictional overlaps and inefficiencies in operations.

According to a statement by the Head of Information and Public Relations, Office of the SGF, Chris Ugwuegbulam, he said the report of the Inter-Ministerial Committee would serve as a framework to guide the Federal Government in taking informed decisions on streamlining auxiliary security agencies in the country.

According to him, the committee will compile an inventory of all security and para-military outfits at federal, state and quasi-government levels.

It will also examine their legal and operational mandates, assess areas of overlap or conflict, and evaluate the relevance and effectiveness of emerging security outfits.

Kana said the committee would further review coordination mechanisms among agencies and propose reforms aimed at enhancing accountability and reducing operational redundancies.

He added that the panel would recommend appropriate policy, legal and institutional measures for streamlining security agencies, including options for merger, harmonisation, reclassification or dissolution where necessary.

“The work of the committee will also focus on aligning the operations of security and para-military agencies with national priorities and international best practices,” he said.

Membership of the committee is drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Police Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The committee is expected to submit a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations to the government within an approved timeframe.