The secretary of the House of RepresentativesYahaya Danzaria, has tasked the secretaries of the security-related standing committees in the National Assembly to work towards creating synergy between the committees.
Danzaria said that most of the time the committees neglect the “synergy” role that is required “to delve into the systemic and structural factors of the conflict throughout the country and seek measures to resolve them.”
He spoke at the inauguration of a two-day training workshop for secretaries of the National Assembly on Monday in Abuja.
The workshop, organized by a German group, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, had as its theme: ‘Governance of the security sector: promoting collaboration between officials of security-related committees’.
The House of Representatives has about 10 security-related committees. They include Defense, Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, National Security and Intelligence, Police Institutions, Interior and others. Almost the same thing happens in the Senate.
In his speech, Danzaria stated that the workshop aims to develop collaboration capabilities between the committees of the House of the National Assembly.
“While it is standard practice for parliament to have oversight powers over the security sector, the need for all relevant committees of parliament to work synergistically towards this common goal is often neglected,” Danzaria said.
He explained that parliament has the responsibility to use its oversight power to ensure that citizens are safe and protected.
“The importance of parliamentary participation in the security sector is simple but profound to understand; As Parliament is a congregation of representatives of the common man and has the responsibility of making laws for the purposes of the people it represents, it is a sine qua non that Parliament should do its utmost to ensure that the interests of the people it represents represents are truly safeguarded.
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“The purpose of this workshop, therefore, is to encourage discourse on best possible practices for building parliamentary capacity in security sector governance with emphasis on promoting collaboration between the secretaries of all committees of the National Assembly focused in security.
“This crucial effort is necessary to ensure effective oversight, transparency and accountability for the management of our country’s security forces, as well as to improve the quality of decision-making across the board,” he said.
In recent years, many Nigerians have become disillusioned with the National Assembly’s resolutions on security. Despite hundreds of motions and resolutions on security from its two chambers, Nigerians are still grappling with insecurity across the country.
Last year, then House Deputy Speaker Idris Wase said House resolutions had become mere statements.
