The Nigerian Senate has raised significant concerns regarding the recent withdrawal of police orderlies assigned to senators, expressing fears that this could expose lawmakers to unnecessary risks. In response to this issue, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, announced that the Senate leadership held an emergency meeting to discuss the possibility of securing an exemption for lawmakers from President Bola Tinubu’s directive.
On November 23, President Tinubu issued an order to withdraw police officers assigned to “Very Important Persons” (VIPs) across the country, reallocating approximately 11,000 police officers to address Nigeria’s pressing internal security challenges. This directive has sparked debates on its implementation, especially concerning the treatment of senators.
Senator Abdul Ningi from Bauchi Central initiated the discussion by highlighting the withdrawal of his personal police orderly. While he stated his understanding of the directive, he expressed disappointment over what he perceived as inconsistent enforcement, noting that some celebrities and businessmen continue to enjoy police escorts in violation of the President’s order.
In light of Senator Ningi’s revelations, the Senate mandated its Committee on Police Affairs to conduct an immediate investigation into these alleged discrepancies. The committee has been given a four-week timeframe to complete its inquiry and report back to the Senate during plenary.
