By our correspondent

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, has stressed the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the security of lives and property in Nigeria.

Dr Abbas spoke at the 2024 Nigeria Defence Governance Forum organized by the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies in Abuja, the Speaker highlighted the need for better collaboration between the legislative and executive arms of government, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and the media.

A statement by Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, quoted the Speaker to have said that the Nigeria Defence Governance Forum provided a significant platform for stakeholders to engage in a national conversation on fostering dialogue and collaboration in national security governance. He emphasized that Nigeria’s strategic importance and the transnational nature of security challenges underscore the need for regional and continental collaboration.

The Speaker also highlighted the progress made in legislative control of the security sector since the return of democracy in 1999. He emphasized the need for collaboration between the National Assembly, security and defence sector officials, and the public through the media and CSOs, stressing that this is not only desirable but also constitutionally mandated and expected.

He called on agencies in the security sector to commit to open communication, and to regularly provide accurate and detailed reports to the National Assembly.

He also encouraged CSOs and the public to engage actively with legislative processes, offer independent assessments, and voice concerns or recommendations.

Also, the Speaker emphasized the need for the legislature to receive assistance from security agencies, stakeholders, and the public to integrate constituent and citizen perspectives into defence and security strategy and policymaking.

He encouraged CSOs and development partners to provide expert analyses, data-driven insights, empirical evidence, and international best practices to enrich debates and decision-making.

The Speaker called on the media to focus on rigorous reporting and coverage of security sector activities, highlighting compliance and discrepancies in officials’ engagements with the legislature.

He emphasized that this collaborative approach will ensure continuous oversight and enhance the security sector’s governance, aligning with best practices for democratic oversight.