Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Plateau State branches, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sponsor an Executive Bill seeking to move security from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List to give state governors adequate control of security operations.
Chairman of the NBA Jos Branch, Morgan I. Dung, who presented the position of the four branches at a joint press conference in Jos on Monday, said the current security command structure had proved inadequate in addressing recurring attacks on communities across the state.
Dung said the proposed reform would give governors actual control of security operations rather than merely assigning them the title of chief security officers without corresponding authority over operational commanders and other personnel.
“Maintaining status quo in the chain of command has proven to be unyielding in the light of recent ugly developments in the country.
“We therefore call on the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to sponsor an Executive Bill in the National Assembly to fully domicile Security under the Concurrent Legislative List, giving State Governors adequate command of security apparatus rather than the mere assumption of titles as Chief Security Officers of their respective States without a corresponding control of operation or theatre commanders and other personnel,” the NBA said.
The association said the demand became necessary against the backdrop of continued attacks on communities in Plateau, particularly in Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Bokkos Local Government Areas.
It also called on the Federal Government to ensure that the Armed Forces and paramilitary agencies were adequately motivated, well equipped, patriotic and disciplined to effectively discharge their constitutional responsibilities.
The NBA further demanded stronger border security and surveillance around Plateau, Bauchi and Taraba states, citing Garga community in Kanam Local Government Area as one of the communities affected by banditry and other criminal activities.
It also called for the degazetting of the Pai River Game Reserve and the establishment of a military formation in the area to tackle terrorist activities around the three-state axis.
While commending President Tinubu for his recent visit to Plateau to condole with the state over killings in Jos North Local Government Area, the NBA also acknowledged his initiative towards the creation of state police.
The association, however, said the Federal Government needed to take further steps to address the constitutional limitations affecting the ability of state governments to respond effectively to security threats.
The lawyers also commended the Plateau State Government for revamping Operation Rainbow and the Neighbourhood Watch, training 2,000 personnel, procuring security vehicles and motorcycles, and establishing a command and central monitoring centre in Jos.
“The above initiatives came with a huge relief to Plateau citizens. However, the NBA still calls on the State Government to consider the following: Facilitate the licensing of personnel of the Operation Rainbow and Neighbourhood Watch to operate kinetic facilities under the supervision of frontline security agencies who are drafted to the Operation Rainbow command to complement operational limitations.
“Amend the Plateau State Operation Rainbow law to accommodate the above suggestion and other innovative strategies; implement the provisions of the Anti-Land Grabbing Law of Plateau State; and complement the effort of the Federal Government by providing structures for the established Police Divisions and Forward Operation Bases (FOB) in Plateau State,” it said.
The NBA also urged Plateau, Bauchi and Taraba states to synergise in tackling security threats across their shared borders.
