Reps seek improved protection for security operatives, facilities

The legislative framework which seeks to protect the identity of National Security Agencies officers, agents, sources, informants from unlawful disclosure scaled second reading of the floor of the House of Representatives, yesterday.

The bill also seeks to protect security establishments, facilities and equipment against unauthorized access.

In his lead, Oluwole Oke, chairman, House Committee on Public Procurement, explained that security personnel no longer have the confidence to carry out their duties due to loss of confidence.

Oke therefore reiterated that for lives of these personnel be protected so as to boost their confidence, it is important the ill be passed.

On her part, Nkiruika Onyejiocha, chairman, House Committee on Aviation said: “If we support this Bill they will have confidence in doing their work and it will help us fight against insurgency and insecurity currently witnessed in the country”.

On his part, Segun Odebunmi (PDP-Oyo State), said: “We are moving forward technologically and so there is need for us to review our laws on that. The bill if passed into law every Nigerians will be confident enough to give information about crime”.

In his own contribution, Olatoye Sugar (APC-Oyo) requested for appropriate sanction for informants with fake information that could not be substantiated to guide against frivolous allegation

Sugar who decried a recent experience when a fictious petition was written to the DSS against him and he was invited after which the DSS discovered that the allegations against him were false.

After robust debate on the bill, Speaker Yakubu Dogara referred it to the Committee on National Security and Intelligence for further legislative action.