Reps grill Aregbesola over proposed paramilitary board

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has been requested by the House of Representatives to give reasons the Federal Government is proposing to bring major paramilitary agencies in Nigeria under one governing board.

This is coming as the Senate and the Reps members are currently considering an executive bill transmitted by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly seeking to establish the Civil Defence, Correctional, Federal Fire and Immigration Services Board.

Buhari’s letter on the executive bill, dated February 9, 2022, was read out by President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; and Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila during their respective plenary on February 15, 2022.

The cover letter read in part, “Pursuant to Section 58(2) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), I forward, herewith, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Federal Fire and Immigration Services Board Bill, 2022, for the kind consideration of the Senate.

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“The Civil Defence, Correctional, Federal Fire and Immigration Services Board Bill, 2022 seeks to establish the Civil Defence, Correctional, Federal Fire and Immigration Services Board to adequately reflect the current relationship between the Board, Corps and the Services and align their composition, structure, functions and practices to attain the intended mandate of the services.”

The President expressed hope that the bill would receive the “usual” expeditious consideration of the Senate and the House.

On Friday, Aregbesola appeared before the House.

Majority Leader of the House, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, who presided over the investigative hearing, said it was necessary for lawmakers to seek explanation on some provisions of the proposed amendment, especially why the ministry “wants all these large entities put under one board.”

“Another provision in the bill is seeking the appointment of four commissioners for the board which, in our view, could be a financial burden on the government’s purse,” Ado-Doguwa also said.

Aregbesola, in his response, told the lawmakers that the amendment of the Nigeria Immigration and Prisons Board Act was to enable inclusion of Civil Defence and the Federal Fire Service.

He explained that the aim was to “align the functions and structure of the organisations.”

The minister went further to say that bill was “seeking an amendment to the Nigeria Immigration and Prisons Governing Board, to bring the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Fire Service under the purview of the board to conform with related laws and practices.”

Aregbesola was accompanied by some management staff of the ministry.