House of reps proposes procurement of firearms for sergeant-at-arms

The house of representatives on Thursday proposed the procurement of firearms for sergeant-at-arms at the national assembly.

Ossai Ossai, a lawmaker from Delta state, who made the proposal said this would serve as a check against future invasion of the chambers of the national assembly.

While raising the motion, Ossai said it was a universal standard practice.

He added that it had become necessary because of the recent upsurge of security threats to the assembly.

“There is an urgent need to train the sergeant-at-arms of the national assembly on the use of firearms and other self-defense mobile electronic devices,” he said.

“A well trained sergeant-at-arms on the use, bearing, procurement and storage of firearms will give the lawmakers and the entire national assembly premises the needed safety and a better security protection it deserves.”

The house also resolved to amend the national assembly service commission act of 2014 to establish a fully fledged training academy as a unit of the office of the sergeant at-arms of the national assembly.

The motion was unanimously adopted by members when it was put to a voice vote by Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house.

The house, therefore, mandated its committees on police and legislative compliance to liaise with the presidency and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

In April, some unidentified persons broke into the senate and made away with the mace after overpowering the sergeant-at-arms.