Friday 9TH MARCH 2018

14

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍˇËœ 2018

COMMENT

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

PEACE CORPS BILL AND MATTERS ARISING

Carl Umegboro argues that proliferation of security agencies is no remedy to security of lives and property

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resident Muhammadu Buhari a while ago declined his assent on the bill establishing Peace Corps of Nigeria earlier passed by the National Assembly.

In the reasons adduced by the presidency for withholding assent as required by law, apart from the financial implications, the bill has overlapping responsibilities of existing security agency. The conflict has generated hullabaloo in the society with the executive and legislature drawing a battle line. Funnily enough, the episode developed at a time innocent citizens either by politicallymotivated or communal crisis had ceaselessly been massacred as animals by unknown gunmen. A cursory look at the evil and sophisticated weapons being used by the perpetrators of the heinous crimes leaves many to believe that the attacks may not be completely isolated from the security agencies, and therefore, a need on the federal government to be cautious in empowering and equipping any group of people with arms.

Without a doubt, the legislative powers of the federation are pursuant to Section 4(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. And by the provision of Section 58(5), the National Assembly is clothed with unfettered powers to override the president on bills with two-thirds majority votes. But sensibly, could the latter be liberally invoked without first considering the whys and wherefores of the president’s knockback? To start with, the Navy, for example is vested with the duty of providing security at the seashores; Air Force on the airspace, Army at the territorial borders whilst the Police handles internal security in the society.

This therefore connotes division of labour with clear-cut jurisdictions and responsibilities distinct from each other, for security of lives and properties pursuant to Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution. By this arrangement, all the security-agencies identify clearly their respective primary operations zone which therefore eliminates unnecessary squabbles. Though, in exceptional cases, there may be joint-operations as directed by the president who doubles as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

At the moment, the police already are complemented by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) alongside the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and State Security Service (SSS). The federal government stringently carved out financial crimes from the duties of the police for EFCC as a specialised agency albeit both agencies operate with coordinate jurisdiction.

On the other hand, the Department of State Service (DSS), also known as State Security Service complements the police in providing security to high-ranking government officials and other intelligence issues. This is sufficiently convincing that there are many agencies sharing responsibilities already with the police. Sadly, the police remain under-funded and short-staffed. Arguably, proliferation of

DUPLICATION OF SECURITY AGENCIES WITHOUT CLEARLY SPELT-OUT DUTIES IS UNCONSCIOUSLY CALLING FOR A CATASTROPHE

agencies is no remedy to security of lives and property but efficient coordination and funding which aligned with the president’s explanations.

Incidentally, the Peace Corps bill aimed at establishing the organisation to perform the same duties delineated for the police was rejected by the executive arm, the section that will be held liable if their services are compromised. The questions begging for answers to the promoters of the bill are; first, are the reasons adduced by the president weighty enough for the bill to be rejected? Second, what responsibilities would the proposed agency be assigned-with since grassroots and internal security is the duty of the police, and third, will the legislature coordinate its operations if established and fund the agency from its mind-blowing budgets? Above all, is it proficient to establish security agency without necessary planning and funding knowing that a security agency that is redundant will likely take advantage of uniforms and arms at its disposal to do more harm than good to the society? Arising from these, duplication of security agencies without clearly spelt-out duties is unconsciously calling for a catastrophe. At most, the interested applicants could seek for recruitments in the existing organised agencies rather than sporadically setting up parallel organisations with overlapping duties which will create unnecessary disasters in no distant time. Again, if the proposed body is not targeted as political tool for the forthcoming general elections, why the sudden pressures when it could run as voluntary organisation until there is necessity, adequate resources and mechanism in place.

Concluding, a new security organisation to be controlled by the presidency should logically come through executive bills after a thorough consideration of the prerequisites, funding and coordination. The DSS and EFCC are productive on account of holistic planning prior to their establishment. Thus, an agency proposed to exist under the executive arm cannot suitably be a product of private sponsored-bills. Undeniably, employment is a fundamental issue in any society but the principal objective of security agencies is not employment-driven. It is perilous to empower a group with arms without proper coordination, control and training as the helpless society will certainly bear the repercussions. At this point, the appropriate legislative action is to deliberate extensively on the two cogent explanations by the president instead of absurdly gathering signatures as laws that are impracticable will inevitably retire in the wastebaskets. Generally and commonsensically, the legislature cannot arbitrarily foist a body on the executive without consensus, otherwise, abuse of legislative powers. Thus, to override the president should always be the last resort and strictly after extensive consultations.

Umegboro, public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja

TREATING THE SYMPTOMS The Senate roundtable on migration and human trafficking holds lessons for Nigeria, writes Sanni Onogu

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he Senate Roundtable on Migration and Human Trafficking held in Benin City, the Edo State capital, may have come and gone, but the lessons therefrom will go a long way in drastically mitigating the negative implications of illegal migration and human trafficking on the national psyche, prevent the scourge and help refocus young persons who feel that the only way to happiness and good life is to migrate to a foreign country at all cost.

The first lesson is that the 8th Senate has raised the ante on legislative interventions by practically moving its sitting to different parts of the country which it considers as requiring its reach, intervention, and influence on key issues of urgent national importance. The method has led to the staging of national discussion in certain areas of the country to galvanise needed consciousness, resources, policy and legislative input from a broad spectrum in tackling different crucial socio-economic issues that are assuming grave implications for the overall wellbeing of the people and development of the country. The Senate’s Roundtables on Drug Use in Kano in December and the one on Migration and Human Trafficking in Benin City are cases in point.

Another takeaway is the fact that Nigeria and the international community are genuinely losing sleep and are ready to do something about the spike in illegal migration and human trafficking as evidenced by the impressive attendance and contributions.

From victims of human trafficking to returnees to community leaders, traditional institutions like the Oba of Benin who was represented by the Obasogie of Benin Kingdom, Chief Eduwu Ekhator, state governments represented by Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, his deputy, Phillip Shuaibu, Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa - who sent a representative - senators, ministers, heads of federal agencies, ambassadors, members of the global diplomatic community, heads of security agencies, the media, academia and civil society, the event had quality audience.

The presentations, analyses and facts made available at the sessions, it was clear that the root cause of this national malaise stems from a convergence of multiple factors including but not limited to economic hardship, individual and collective greed, cultural values - where negative practices are discretely encouraged - and the high cost and gaps in the educational system that do not emphasize the acquisition of skills among others. Testimonies from some returnees and experts at the session point to issues like having a landed property to bury ones parents, lack of jobs, epileptic power supply and high level of school dropouts - due to high cost of education - as potent fuels for the raging desire to illegally migrate at all costs or yield to the guile of trafficking cartels. Some even expressed the desire to embark on similar trips in future, irrespective of present dangers.

Another takeaway is the fact that apart from the low international image foisted on the country by the increasing criminal acts of human trafficking and illegal migration, the victims often have a tale of anguish, exploitation, dehumanisation, bloodied nose, psychological and social disorientation to tell. While many suffer death in the process, others survive by the whiskers after serving jail term, forced labour, sexual exploitation and outright sale into slavery as being witnessed in Libya.

The horrific signals of acts of torture, wholesale slavery emanating from major international media on the ordeal of Nigerians being trafficked or involved in illegal migration across international borders has been ineffectual in terms of deterrence as the orgy has not only become an epidemic of grave concern to government at all levels, communities and the international community, but remains a festering sore on the relations between Nigeria and global community in terms of individual, corporate and diplomatic engagements.

Moreover, things have become worse in that other Nigerians who are legally making forays into European countries often suffer the indignity of

being treated with ignominy until they can prove that they are ‘clean and legit’ in line with the laws of individual countries.

It is further noteworthy that even though governments, in transit and destination countries, have since rolled up their sleeves and initiated plans aimed at mitigating the modern slavery through effective law enforcement and provision of social incentives - to prevent the practice, prosecute traffickers, protect and reintegrate victims - the measures still seem like a drop in the ocean. This is in view of the sheer number of persons willing to embark on the tortuous expeditions through the apparent graveyards of the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea. Also worthy of mention is the undertaking by the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, that the roundtable would not be an end in itself, but the beginning of a series of initiatives and activities involving legislation, improvement in the quality of policy and implementation capacities as well as a re-engineered social response in tackling the menace of illegal migration and human trafficking.

Appalled by the seeming helplessness of state, federal and international agencies who daily sweat to put a stop to the whirlwind of human cargo with little success, the roundtable proffered both short and long term strategies as a way of taming the monster. After the two-day intense deliberations, the participants in their communique recommended that strong measures involving all governments and communities must be adopted immediately to stem the tide of young persons still undertaking dangerous and illegal journeys out of the country. They also canvassed that Nigerians in distress in countries wherever they are located should be assisted to return home. Their safety, security, and other rights must be protected by the Nigerian government and host governments until their status are clarified or they are returned home. They also advocated that intense awareness campaigns must be mounted to warn gullible young people against embarking on dangerous journeys, and to destroy the perceptions

that foreign lands are the only route to wealth and happiness. They further stated that law, order and other regulatory agencies must be made more effective, efficient and accountable while their capacities to prevent, arrest and prosecute traffickers and collaborators in illegal or irregular migration should be strengthened and made evident. The conferees further urged the global community to improve its responses to the issues of irregular migration and human trafficking, adding that there is the need to intensify collaboration and cooperation between the Nigerian government and other governments to strengthen legal frameworks, innovative steps in dealing with repatriation and re-integration matters.

The roundtable called on destination countries to invest in the Nigerian economy to improve its capacity to engage its young people who may be tempted to migrate to other countries.

Besides, the roundtable resolved and recommended that government should radically improve the nation’s economy to improve its capacity to grow and provide quality education and skills, jobs and other opportunities for young citizens because there are genuine roots of irregular migration and human trafficking located in the failure of young Nigerians to find places in the economy. The experts also advised that improvements in coordination of all government agencies involved in irregular migration and human trafficking need to be undertaken immediately. They underscored the need for state governments, particularly where younger people are more involved in irregular migration and human trafficking, to invest more in the acquisition of quality education, skills and jobs.

Moreover, they stated that it is imperative that communities must be more open in acknowledging and addressing where traditional and cultural values have been compromised; perverse mindsets have taken roots; and negative practices are discretely encouraged.

Onogu is Chief Press Secretary to President of the Senate