Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, has kicked against the withdrawal of his police orderly, describing the action as selective and unfair.
Kano Times reports that President Bola Tinubu had on November 23 ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs across the country.
Raising the matter during plenary on Wednesday, Ningi lamented that while his police orderly was withdrawn, several political office holders and private individuals were still enjoying police protection.
He cited the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act 2008, insisting that the directive on withdrawal of police orderlies should be applied uniformly.
“Let us see what happens from the office of the president to the vice president, the senate president, the speaker of the house and ministers,” he said.
“I saw two ministers moving around with many security personnel.
“I have also seen business people, including foreigners, with police orderlies. Daughters and sons of political office holders, musicians and entertainers also enjoy police protection.
“I cannot imagine that a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with just one orderly, will have him withdrawn, while nothing happens elsewhere.”
The senator called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio to mandate the Senate Committee on Police Affairs to investigate the matter.
“You cannot make the National Assembly a scapegoat while others enjoy security privileges,” Ningi added.
Responding, Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, said the issue had already been discussed by the Senate leadership and would be formally addressed.
According to Barau, the police directive was issued in good faith to strengthen internal security but was being flouted.
“The chairman of the committee on police affairs should investigate properly and let us know why the presidential directive is not being uniformly implemented,” he said.
He added that the Senate leadership had agreed on steps to ensure that Ningi’s police orderly is restored, expressing confidence that President Tinubu would listen to the concerns raised.
“We stand by the president in his effort to address the insecurity in the country. The matter has been addressed,” Barau said.
