By Aaron Ossai
Executive Secretary of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, Hon. Henry Nwawuba, has challenged the National Assembly to move beyond expressions of sympathy and deploy legislative and policy reforms to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
Nwawuba made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the 2nd Annual Distinguished Parliamentarian Lecture organised by the House of Representatives Press Corps, where he was honoured with 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 described the proposed establishment of state police as an opportunity for Parliament to develop innovative approaches to the country’s security challenges.
He said the legislature must remain at the forefront of policy innovation, particularly as the nature of insecurity continues to evolve across the country.
Nwawuba, who previously chaired the House Committee on Monitoring of the Legislative Agenda, recalled that his committee had examined aspects of Nigeria’s security architecture, including overlapping mandates among security agencies and measures to improve policing effectiveness.
He said the issues were considered within the context of constitutional amendment and emerging legislative proposals on state police.
According to him, lawmakers must accept the responsibility of finding lasting solutions to insecurity instead of repeatedly expressing sympathy for victims.
“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 state police could provide a policing structure more responsive to the peculiar security needs of different communities and regions, noting that similar models had been adopted in other countries.
While acknowledging concerns over the proposed reform, particularly the possibility of abuse, he said such challenges could be addressed through appropriate safeguards and a sustainable funding framework.
“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.
The former lawmaker maintained that the changing security situation demanded corresponding legislative action, stressing that the primary purpose of lawmaking was to protect and advance the interests of citizens.
“We have an emerging situation on our hands when it comes to insecurity, so Parliament must respond and that is what Parliament is for. Any law that does not serve the people is a bad law,” he said.
