Kidnappings: Service Chiefs To Appear Before Senate On Thursday

Lawan explained that the Service Chiefs were unable to respond promptly to the invitation by appearing today due to an ongoing security meeting at the Presidential Villa which is scheduled to end on Wednesday this week.

Kidnappings: Service Chiefs To Appear Before Senate On Thursday
Service Chiefs

Security Chiefs and Heads of Security Agencies would on Thursday, appear before the Senate to brief it on efforts to address the spate of insecurity in the country.

The Senate will be briefed properly on the worsening security situation in the country that appears to threaten the nation’s corporate existence.

Disclosing this yesterday in Abuja, President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, said that the appearance by the Service Chiefs is in response to a resolution by the Senate last week Tuesday, wherein it was resolved that the Service Chiefs and other Heads of Security Agencies be invited against the backdrop of heightening insecurity across states of the federation.

Lawan explained that the Service Chiefs were unable to respond promptly to the invitation by appearing today due to an ongoing security meeting at the Presidential Villa which is scheduled to end on Wednesday this week.

He noted that in view of the development, the Service Chiefs would, therefore, appear before the chamber on Thursday, May 6, 2021.

Those to appear before the Senate are the National Security Adviser, NSA, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd), Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff; Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of Naval Staff; Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu, and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amoo.

Also expected at the meeting are the National Security Adviser, the Minister of Defence, Gen. Bashir Magashi, the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ahmed Rufa’i and acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Usman Baba.

Lawan said, “They were to come today at 11 am to brief the Senate on the security situation. 

''Today the national security council is continuing its meeting that it started last week. Therefore the invited security head will not be able to come for the briefing.

''We are not sure if they will finish their meeting today. We assume it could spill to Wednesday too.

“Just like it spilt from Thursday to Tuesday. So to be on the side of caution. We have now fixed the date for the briefing to be Thursday, 6.

“I want to appeal to all of us. That the briefing will take from the service chiefs and other security agencies will be very crucial for us to be properly informed, properly guided and that if there is any request for supplementary budget, we should be able to understand why we should consider and approve such request.

“On Thursday, the only item on the order paper will be the briefing. We will do that as a special day for the engagement, the interaction between the Senate and the service.”