House of Representatives, on Tuesday, tasked authorities of Nigeria Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to commence the recruitment of volunteers, with a view to stem the rising security challenges across the country.
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of the motion on the ‘Need to consider the recruitment of Community Policing Constabulary Scheme and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps volunteers into the Nigeria Police Force and Civil Defence Corps (NSDC),’ sponsored by Chairman, House Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations, Hon. Sulaiman Abubakar Gumi.
While calling for the House intervention, Hon. Gumi cited a 2019 media report attributed to the former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, after meeting with the former President, Muhammadu Buhari, who stated that plans were on to use Npower beneficiaries to kick-start community policing in the country.
“The House notes that the proposal put up by the Federal Government and the 36 State Governors to recruit 500,000 volunteers across the 774 Local Government Areas of the country through the N-Power programme was designed to tackle the shortage of manpower in the Nigeria Police Force.
“The House also recalls that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was initially formed in May 1967 during the Civil War and operated majorly within the Federal Capital Territory of Lagos, initially referred to as the Lagos Civil Defence Committee, in 1970 the institution was named, ‘the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps’, it became a national security outfit in 1988 and was officially established by Act 3 of 2003.
“The House also notes that the Nigerian Police Force Spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, stated on August 24, 2022, that the volunteers working and trained by the Nigeria Police are not direct employees or personnel of the police but of their respective communities, hence not entitled to salary but allowances (News Agency of Nigeria, August 25, 2022).
“The House is aware that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in line with his electioneering campaign aimed at strengthening the Nigeria Police towards optimal functionality in resolving the insecurity challenge in Nigeria, gave approval for the annual recruitment of 10,000 personnel into the Force, (the Nationonlineng.net; September 2, 2023).
“The House is also aware that the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase, recently inaugurated an 11-man board saddled with the recruitment of police constables into the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) (Nationonhneng.net, September 4, 2023);
“The House observes that the implementation of community policing strategies across the country was to focus on building strong ties between the police and members of the communities through interactions with local agencies and members of the public, thus creating partnerships and strategies to reducing crime and disorder.
“The House is conscious of the fact that the NSCDC was primarily established to protect lives. properties, and public infrastructure in conjunction with Nigerian police, due to the shortage of manpower experienced in the Police Force, the institution relies on volunteers who complement the efforts of regular corps members to effectively carry out their assigned roles and functions;
“The House is cognizant of the need to prioritize experience as a tool in Police and Civil Defence Corps recruitments and consider employing members of the community policing constabulary scheme (volunteers) and NSCDC volunteers who have demonstrated commendable performance during their recruitment exercises,” he noted.
To this end, the House urged the Minister of Interior and NSCDC Commandant General to strongly consider NSCDC volunteers who have diligently performed their duties for Cognizant of the need to prioritize experience as a tool in Police and Civil Defence Corps recruitment exercises.
Hence, the lawmakers urged Chairman, Police Service Commission, and the Inspector General of Police to strongly consider members of the community policing constabulary scheme (volunteers) who have diligently performed their duties for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force during recruitment exercises.
The lawmakers also urged the Minister of Interior and NSCDC Commandant General to strongly consider NSCDC volunteers who have diligently performed their duties for recruitment into the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps during recruitment exercises.
To this end, the House mandated the joint Committees on Police Affairs and Interior to ensure compliance.