HOPELESS RESOLUTIONS: Killings go unabated as n’assembly keeps observing moments of silence

Since the commencement of the 10th national assembly – more than a year now – the moments of silence observed by members of the legislature to honour citizens who have been killed by insurgents, suspected bandits, or gunmen have exceeded 45 minutes altogether – if not more.

Almost every other week, either the house of representatives or senate observes a moment of silence to mourn these killings and thereafter passes resolutions following such distressing events.

Most of the prayers for these kinds of motions often read: “Observe a minute of silence for the deceased”, “Urge the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators”, “Urge the security agencies to use technology”, and “Urge the federal government to increase funding for security agencies”, among others.

Before the inauguration of the 10th national assembly, in a single day in June 2021, the 9th senate, under the leadership of Ahmad Lawan, observed a record eight separate moments of silence to honour Nigerians who were killed as a result of violent acts by these criminals.

At the time, Lawan said: “Let me observe that we have observed about six one-minute silences and most of it was to pray for the repose of the souls of Nigerians who were murdered or killed by criminals.”

“It is very important that we step up our legislative intervention in ensuring that we protect the lives and properties of Nigerians to reduce the incidence of one-minute silence.

“I believe that the senate and, indeed, the national assembly, working together with the executive and getting the support of Nigerians, can bring much-needed succour to our people, and that is why we are here.”

However, nothing much has changed since then.

SECURITY SUMMITS

Owing to the deteriorating situation in the country, the 8th senate, led by Bukola Saraki, convened a national security summit to address mindless killings in the country.

The summit, held from February 8 to 12, 2018, in Abuja, was declared open by former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and led by Lawan, the senate majority leader at the time.

The meeting came up with 20 recommendations, which were approved by the upper legislative chamber and sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for consideration.

“Investments by the federal government must be made in order to incorporate technology into the core of Nigeria’s national security architecture and management,” the recommendations read in part.

“Nigeria must reduce its dependence on importing its basic security equipment and must immediately develop its internal research and development capacities in order to meet our basic national security needs.

“The Nigerian judiciary must operate with the highest standards of justice in order to ensure that citizens have confidence in our judicial system’s ability to freely and fairly dispense justice.”

Three years later, in 2021, Lawan, then senate president, did the same thing. He convoked another security summit that produced similar recommendations.

That report was also submitted to Buhari. Nothing was heard about the two reports after they were submitted to the former president.

WEAK COMPLIANCE COMMITTEES?

Many citizens have wondered why the compliance committees in both chambers of the national assembly appear to be ineffective in ensuring that the resolutions passed are adhered to.

In March, Abba Moro, the senate minority leader, while contributing to a debate on a motion on security, lamented that the resolutions of the upper legislative chamber have not been effective.

“I think the time has come; the prayers are the same all the time: urge security chiefs, urge NEMA and all that, and it has not yielded the desired results,” Moro said.

“We need to be proactive on this matter.

“In the ninth senate, an ad hoc committee was set up to review the security architecture, which was done, but unfortunately the recommendations were not implemented.

“Some of these bandits hide out in forests. The mystery is why we have not been able to pick them up from these forests.

“Let’s ask our compliance committee to ensure resolutions are implemented.”

At the time, it was resolved that the leadership of the national assembly would hold a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on how the country could tackle the rising insecurity issues.

It is unclear if that meeting was ever held. But what has continued to be persistent are the killings of citizens by these gunmen, bandits, and insurgents, such as the recent suicide attacks in Borno state.

Many citizens now see the observation of moments of silence by national assembly members as just a ritual without any serious meaning to them.