By Levinus Nwabughiogu-Abuja

A group known as the Guild of Civil Societies and Media Executives for Equity, Justice, and Transparency in Nigeria (GOCMEJ) has rejected a move to merge Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

In a statement signed by the President, Omoba Aigbebee, and the secretary, James Okoronkwo, and made available to Vanguard in Abuja on Tuesday, the group said repeal and enactment bill was detrimental to the wellbeing of Nigerians.

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The statement titled “Stop the NSCDC (Repeal and Enactment Bill), Detrimental to Wellbeing of Nigerian Security”, stated thus “the attention of the Guild of Civil Societies and Media Executives for Equity, Justice and Transparency in Nigeria (GOCMEJ) has been drawn to the proposed bill by Honourable Shina Peller, representing Iseyin/Itsiwaju/Kajola/Iwajora Federal Constituency of Oyo State at the House of Representatives seeking the scrapping and merger of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

“The lawmaker proposed the bill to the House via the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (Repeal and Transition) Bill 2022, which has passed first reading on the floor of the House and has created a lot of hues and cries from Nigerians and as such demands an outright condemnation to put a stop to it.

“As champions of transparency, good governance and accountability in public service, we condemn in strong terms and in its entirety this proposed bill as it does not trigger constructive debates, conversations and substantive reforms in the best interest of the nation and, as such, should be rejected and jettisoned by the House as it is unnecessary, retrogressive and premature.

“We are, therefore, constrained to issue the following statements, as the bill in question touches the sensitivity, feelings, aspirations and crux of the Nigerian people and the security architecture.

“Why then the proposed merger or the proposed scrapping of the agency? Nigerians are asking as the present crop of officers and men of the NSCDC are proactive and alive to their day-to-day responsibilities of protecting critical assets spread across the length and breadth of the country. Just like in developed nations of the world where you have different security agencies complementing one another in the discharge of the security responsibilities of the said country.

“The lawmaker should be seen to be sponsoring and spearheading debates on how to increase funding for the NSCDC, including institutional capacity building and manpower development, instead of calling for its scrapping and merger so as to enhance their constitutional roles.

“The bill seeking the scrapping or merger of the NSCDC is seen by Nigerians as a course carried too far and the reasons given for it is too pedestrian to be taken seriously by right-thinking Nigerians and, as such, should be rejected wholeheartedly. It is very unnecessary, ill-timed, and unreasonable to push for and canvass for such a bill at this time the country is going through severe challenges of insecurity as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency and banditry.

“Rather than call for its scrapping or merger as the case may be, each security agency should be left to play their constitutionally assigned roles and complement each other where necessary as provided for in the Constitution of the Federal Republic.

“GOCMEJ calls on the leadership of the House, to jettison the bill forthwith and stop it from wasting taxpayers’ funds, dissipating time, energy and resources on vexed issues that are not important to the safety of lives and property, including the protection of its citizenry at a time when the nation is facing dire consequences of insecurity. That the plan by the Honourable member is ill-conceived, irrelevant, and unnecessary in today’s scheme of things and will do more harm than good and exacerbate the security challenges the country is facing.

“We also call on the House of Representatives to reject the proposed bill in its entirety and call for the stoppage of the obnoxious bill that is detrimental to the collective wellbeing of the security architecture and urge the Honourable member to channel his energy towards other productive endeavours.”