Shina Peller, a legislator in the House of Representatives representing the lseyin/ltesiwaju/ Kajola/lwajowa Federal Constituency in Oyo State, has advocated abolishing the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Peller advocated that the NSCDC’s functions be transferred to the Nigeria Police Force.
The National Security And Civil Defence Corps (Repeal and Transition) Bill 2022, which passed first reading on Tuesday, was introduced by the congressman.
The bill aims to repeal the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (Amendment) Act 2007, create a transition management committee to oversee the NSCDC, formulate laws and procedures for the transfer of the corps’ assets and employees to the Nigeria Police Force, and address other issues.
In the bill, Peller noted that “fragmentation of security resources across multiple competing agencies is counterproductive.”
The lawmakers also noted that the mandate of the NSCDC “has now become a duplication of the Nigeria Police Force,” adding, “this has led to avoidable conflicts.”
Peller stated, “Every single function of the NSCDC can be done or is being done by the Nigeria Police Force,” while citing “waste of scarce resources,” stressing that the annual budget of the NSCDC is almost N100bn.
“The assets and personnel of the NSCDC will be absorbed by the Nigeria Police. So, no loss of jobs,” he noted.
The NSCDC, which was a voluntary organization, was converted to a national security outfit by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
The bill came at a time when the National Assembly is considering or has passed bills to establish more security outfits such as the Peace Corps and Vigilante Group of Nigeria.
