Jonas Ezieke, Abuja
Executive Secretary of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, Hon. Henry Nwawuba, has said Parliament must respond to Nigeria’s challenge of insecurity through policy and legislative innovation.
Nwawuba spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the 2nd Annual Parliamentarian Lecture organised by the House of Representatives Press Corps, where he received the Icon of Legislative Research award.
Speaking on the theme, “Imperative of State Police: Securing Communities, Strengthening Federalism,” the former member of the House of Representatives said the establishment of state police represented an opportunity for Parliament to explore new approaches to addressing insecurity.
Nwawuba, who said he previously chaired the House Committee on Monitoring of the Legislative Agenda, recalled that his committee had undertaken work on security, including examining the overlapping mandates within Nigeria’s security architecture and ways to make policing more effective.
He said the issues were considered from the perspective of constitutional amendment and the emerging legislation on state police.
According to him, Parliament should serve as an engine room for policy innovation, particularly in responding to security challenges.
He said lawmakers could not continue to offer sympathy to victims of insecurity without taking legislative action to address the problem.
“We can’t keep saying our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of insecurity and we call ourselves legislators. We will get tired. After a while it becomes shameful. Is it that there is nothing we can do?” he asked.
Nwawuba said the proposed reform sought to provide policing that responded to the peculiar needs of different regions, noting that similar approaches had been adopted in other countries.
He acknowledged concerns surrounding state police but said adequate attention should be given to funding and other safeguards.
“I do appreciate the concerns that some people have raised but for me as long as we can take care of the issue of funding, I think we should give it a try because insanity is when you keep doing the same thing and think the situation will change,” he said.
Nwawuba said the changing nature of insecurity required Parliament to respond, adding that laws should ultimately serve the interests of the people.
“We have an emerging situation on our hands when it comes to insecurity so the parliament must respond and that is what the parliament is for. Any law that does not serve the people is a bad law,” he said.
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