More Police Duties For Soldiers

THE Ministry of Power must have known that something was wrong with the deployment of the military to its installations for it to offer an explanation of the decision that has added to the tension between it and its workers.

“The present security challenges in the country have warranted the deployment of security personnel to all major infrastructures in the country in order to protect government investments,” it said in a statement.

“Government therefore, wishes to remind all PHCN staff and indeed, all Nigerians that electricity is one of those critically vital infrastructure (essential services) where workers must not go on strike as doing so is tantamount to wilfully removing the life support upon which the sovereignty of Nigeria is sustained,” it added. “The security personnel are under strict instructions to protect the lives of workers and guard installations from possible terror attacks, which would undoubtedly throw the nation into total darkness, thereby weakening the present government’s efforts to sustain the gains so far made on the economy.”

Issues between the Ministry and its workers, more than anything else, might have been behind the deployment, which workers complain create a hostile atmosphere for them. Government understands that tough tactics might be used on the workers who are adamant on their position on privatisation.

Section 217 (2c) of the Constitution gives a role in internal security to the armed forces. “The Federation shall, subject to an Act of the National Assembly made in that behalf, equip and maintain the armed forces as may be considered adequate and effective for the purpose of (c) suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the President, but subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly,” it stated.

Has the National Assembly made laws to capture the internal security role of the armed forces? Has the government thought of the implications of deploying the military without legal guidelines for their operations?

If the police are unable to protect the people from common criminals, should the matter be left unattended? Is government satisfied with the service the police provide? Is the government investing enough in the police?

The frequent recourse to the military to handle situations that are within the mandate of the police, delays serious government attention that could lead to the over-hauling of the police. Past solutions to this persistent issue had been to fire the police boss without making any changes in the operations of the police.

Government has waited for too long to re-organise the police. It should be with detailed attention to a modern police force that would be abreast of trends in crimes.

The use of the military to combat crimes should be an interim measure that cannot be used for too long. Each time government calls in the armed forces; it calls to question the usefulness of the police and sees less reason to improve the efficiency of the police.

The armed forces cannot be the substitute to the police. Even the government should know this.