CSO kicks against bill to allow ONSA recruit own staff, says it’ll undermine democracy

An organisation known as the Civil Society For Peace, Security and Development (CSPSD) has rejected a bill seeking to employ permanent staff at the office of the national security adviser (ONSA).

The current staff of ONSA are officers on secondment, drawn from the various agencies in the country’s intelligence community.

The bill is currently stuck at the second reading in the senate.

In November when the general principles of the bill were discussed, many senators kicked against it. Thereafter, the bill was stepped down to allow more legislative input.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Obadiah Ovye, a co-convener of the CSPSD, said the bill if passed and assent to, would give the NSA “sweeping powers” that would shield him from legislative oversight.

Ovye said the bill must not be allowed to pass because it would undermine the president.

“Why does the NSA plan to operationalise his office with full compliments of permanent staff when such are already seconded by security agencies? Will this not enlarge the budget which the government is trying to reduce?,” Ovye asked.

“The said bill, if enacted, would give the NSA sweeping powers that would allow him to bypass existing checks and balances and operate with little oversight.

“This would create a dangerous concentration of power in the hands of a single individual and undermine the principles of democracy and accountability. More disturbing is that the Act, when in existence, will undermine the President.

“In addition, the Office of the NSA does not have full autonomy and traditionally relies on staff from support agencies (Army, Navy, Airforce, Police, NIA and DSS) on secondment.

“This approach has proven effective over the years and fosters a cohesive integrated and collaborative approach.

“However, if the NSA’s office were to become independent, the dual responsibility of oversight and coordination could overwhelm the individual in the role.”

The co-convener said President Bola Tinubu and the relevant stakeholders should oppose “the ill-intentioned and ill-conceived” bill.