Ningi Faults Federal Government On Police Orderly Withdrawal Order

A mild drama unfolded on the Senate floor on Wednesday when Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, raised a point of order to protest the withdrawal of his only police orderly.

Ningi insisted that the directive issued by the Presidency and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) restricting police attachments must be implemented “across the board” and not targeted at lawmakers alone.

The federal lawmaker told the Chamber that, although his orderly had been withdrawn, several categories of individuals, including ministers, governors, businessmen, and even entertainers, have continued to enjoy full security protection.

“It should be done across the board,” Ningi said. “Let’s see what happens from the office of the President, to the Vice President, to the Senate President, to the Speaker, to the Ministers. I saw two ministers yesterday (Tuesday) with a convoy of security personnel. I have seen business concerns, Chinese and other companies, with orderlies. I have seen daughters and sons of political office holders, and even singers, moving around with police protection.

“But a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who has been here for a very long time, has only one orderly — and that is the one being withdrawn. This is unheard of in any democracy.”

Ningi described the selective enforcement of the directive as unacceptable, urging the Senate President to mandate the Committee on Police Affairs to investigate why some individuals were exempted from the policy.

“You cannot put the National Assembly as a scapegoat while others enjoy the privileges of security protection,” he insisted. “Let it be done across the board. I can take care of myself, but let me not see governors, ministers, and business concerns being covered by the security establishment.”
Presiding over the plenary, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau assured Ningi that the issue had already been taken up by the Senate leadership.

“As usual, when you have issues like this, you come to me and we sort them out informally,” Barau said. “But since you brought it to the attention of the entire Senate, I want to inform you that the leadership discussed this yesterday, and we took action. We expect feedback today regarding the police orderlies withdrawn from the Senate.”

Barau acknowledged that President Bola Tinubu’s directive was issued in good faith to strengthen internal security, but stated that any selective implementation must be thoroughly investigated.

“Where you have singers, businessmen and others still enjoying police protection, the Chairman of the Police Affairs Committee should investigate why the directive of Mr President is being flouted,” he said.

He insisted that the Senate stood firmly behind the President’s efforts to tackle insecurity, but also expected fair and lawful enforcement of his directives.

“The leadership agreed yesterday that steps should be taken to restore your police orderly because it aligns with international practice. We have a listening President, and I am confident he will address this issue,” Barau said.

The Deputy Senate President reaffirmed that the matter had been taken seriously and was already being resolved.