Bill to make NASS Presiding Officers part of security council passes second reading

The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed for second
reading a bill to make Presiding Officers of the two chambers of
the National Assembly members of the National Security Council.

The bill seeks to amend the third schedule of the 1999
constitution to allow for parliament (principal officers) to be
part of the national security council.

The House insisted that being members of the security council
will enable members to be well informed in the area of security
hence they are the closest to the people.

Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, its
sponsor, Odebunmi Olusegun (APC, Oyo) explained that democracy has
come to stay in Nigeria hence it was important and strategic for
the legislative arm of government to be included in the
deliberation of the country’s security.

He said “securing our country is one of the major
responsibilities of any government in Nigeria and any other parts
of the world. However, among the functions of the legislature is to
make laws for good governance of the country, wherein good
governance itself has security of life and properties as one of its
determinants.

“Information they say is power, hence the parliament needs to be
well informed in the area of security. That is why this bill is
seeking to amend the third schedule of the 1999 Constitution if the
Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to include the presiding
officers of the National Assembly, that is the Senate President and
the Speaker of House of Representatives in the composition of the
National Security Council”.

The lawmaker maintained that for the parliament to be well
informed and for it to be well guided in making laws that affect
the area of security in line with what is practically
realisable.

He said bill was not an attempt to infuse legislatures into the
executive responsibilities in the spirit of the principle of
separation of powers. It is rather an attempt to put the
legislative arm of government in such position that it will through
its leadership be well informed to be able to guide legislative
activities in the direction that conforms with what is either
happening or been planned for, in the security circle. It will also
encourage executive-legislative collaboration to collectively
secure Nigeria and Nigerians as well as preventing the two arms
from working at cross purposes.

In his contribution, Hon. Tahir Mohammed Moguno (APC, Borno)
said the bill was apt and important due to the current security
situation that the legislature was the closest to the people and
could divulge useful information at such council meeting.

“My argument is against the backdrop of the fact that national
assembly representatives would be very key to this security meeting
because for instance where I come from, my constituents call me and
say Boko Haram is matching towards their communities and in any
case, I can pass such information to the principal officers who
will in turn pass same at such meetings”.