Senate in executive session with Service Chiefs,Ministers over insecurity

By Iyojo Ameh

The Senate on Tuesday at plenary resolved into an executive session to take security briefing from Service Chiefs and Ministers on general insecurity situation in the country.

The resolution, followed adoption of a motion by Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele after it suspended its rule to admit visitors into the chamber.

Visitors admitted into the chamber included the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Ministers of Defence,Police Affairs, Interior and Finance.

Others admitted into the chamber were all the Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police, DG DSS, DG Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA).

President of Senate, Godswill Akpiabio, earlier before the executive session said the ministers were also invited because they supervise the finances of the security agencies.

Akpiabio said in discussing security matters, funding was required for equipment procurement.

He said the presence of the Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun would provide insights on how funding on security matters could be done to ensure security of lives and properties.

According to him, the reasons for the invitation was already known to the invitees, saying that senate decided to take the option of having the interaction because of the various petitions from constituents.

He said the interactive security briefing was also part of the oversight functions of the Senate.

He said the interactive session was also to hear directly from the service chiefs and the ministers, if there was cause for alarm or not.

He said the interaction was to also find out if there was anything the senate and National Assembly could do going forward on issues on security.