A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Hon. Darlington Nwauju, has called on the National Assembly to review relevant sections of the Nigerian Constitution to allow the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCoS) draw funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
Nwauju, who made the call yesterday while speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt, also called for the inclusion of NCoS into the national security budget as part of long-term strategies to curb insecurity in the country.
He further called for the review of the 2025 budget of the Federal Ministry of Interior, to help strengthen the Immigration Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Federal Fire Service to help strengthen and consolidate national security.
The APC chieftain said the call became necessary following the wave of violent deaths recorded along the Benue, Enugu and Ebonyi states’ axis of the country, as well as the need to restrategise to curb cross-border criminality, which has assumed a terrorist dimension.
Nwauju said, “In the interim, the 2025 Appropriation of the Ministry should be reviewed urgently by the National Assembly to help strengthen the Immigration Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence and Fire Services to help strengthen and consolidate national security.
“This call has become necessary given the wave of violent deaths recorded along the Benue, Enugu and Ebonyi axis of the country and the need to restrategize to curb cross-border criminality which has assumed a terroristic dimension.
“The 10th National Assembly must go beyond over-sighting for roads and bridges, which I consider too elementary, to proactively inventing ways of tackling societal needs which will help strengthen our democracy.
“Those in Benue, parts of Ebonyi and Enugu states have faced evidential threats to their collective existence as a people. I believe our lawmakers can make laws to protect lives and property.
“Recall that way back September/October 2024, I made open calls through the media for the integration of Police Affairs into the Ministry of Interior. This was a patriotic call targeting nothing less than our national security.
“It is important to think outside the box on how to tackle the insecurity menace which is quite complex but not insurmountable. Agencies like the NIS, Customs and Police should be in sync for border surveillance activities. These agencies can work together as part of our internal security network for national peace and security.”
