Senate President Ahmad Lawan has said that issues of security in the country, Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and electoral reforms are topmost on the agenda of the Senate as the upper chamber reconvenes on Tuesday.
Lawan said the heightening spate of insecurity is of growing concern that requires the collective effort of the Executive and Legislature, alongside all tiers of government at the State and Local levels.
The Senate President stated this on Monday while fielding questions from members of the Senate Press Corps who paid him a visit to felicitate with him on turning sixty-one recently.
“First and most importantly there is need to look into the issue of security that is bedeviling this country.
“Apparently and obviously, all hands must be on deck to ensure that we bring back a better security situation like we had before.
“The system has not been working effectively and efficiently and we have to do something. And this time around there shouldn’t be buck-passing, we have to be forthright, we have to say it as it is and we have to do what is required.
“One thing is clear, all hands must be on deck, which includes the Federal, State and Local Governments, and more importantly, the citizens.
“Because wherever you see security improving, the citizens play their own roles very well, but of course, the onus lies largely on government,” the Senate President said.
Calling for an immediate review of the security architecture of the country, Senator Lawan disclosed that in view of recent escalation of insecurity in parts of the country, the National Assembly would take a definite position on the security situation in the country.
He added that the Senate will as a matter of urgency engage security agencies as soon as it returns from recess to come up with strategies aimed at tackling incidents of killings across states in Nigeria.
“I believe personally that we should restructure the security architecture. The present system does not appear to give us the kind of outcome that we need, and of course whether it is the federal government or state, local government or traditional ruler or what have you, the purpose should be to secure the lives and properties of Nigerians and we will do that,” the Senate President said.
