By Victor Bieni, Asaba
As part of efforts to promote effective and efficient Community Policing in the country and ensure Local Government grassroots development and provide security supports to both States and Federal Government towards proffering solutions to the current security challenges facing Nigeria as a country, the National President, Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Akeem Ambali Olatunji led Executives had recommended to the National Assembly, Federal House of Representatives Sub-committee on Constitutional amendment to give nod to the Union’s demands on the Establishment of LG Police, which the group said is the only panacea to the problem of insecurity in the country.
The media learnt this recently from the presentation made by the General Secretary, NULGE, Comrade .C. Aguonye to the House of Representatives, NASS, Sub-committee on Constitutional Review held at Delta State Event Centre, Okpanam Road, Asaba, Delta State.
NULGE leadership opined that that the prevailing circumstances necessitates the establishment of LG Police instead of the highly agitated State Police as the criminals hide-outs are in the Local Government Areas of the country, also that the initiative will avail the youths at the rural areas employment opportunities.
NULGE’s sees Community Policing as the prevention of crime, terrorism and targeted violence by identifying challenges, issues and concerns that emerged at the neighborhood through intelligent or information gathering in partnership with security agencies; taken cognizance the importance of best human relations, strategies and trust amongst the citizens, or community people.
The group said: “This our stand on establishment of anti-corruption unit in the LG Councils, 35% Revenue Allocation for LG Council, Local Government creation, abolition joint account with State Governments, Ministry of Women Affairs and Works to be ceded to the Local Government should be reviewed”.
“Also that our submission, if implemented will engender grassroots development, economic emancipation, political advancement, security and peace of our dear nation. Most importantly, we also advocate for the
establishment of Local Government Police. Community People knows every nooks and crannies of our rural Communities. They know those that are members of the Community. And they also know the strangers. Youths can be empowered through this means to secure their various Communities in the Local Government”.
“It is the submission of NULGE that Local Government Police should be established. Statistical survey reveals that over 75.1% of the population of Nigeria resides in Local Government and it is the Local Government that is the epicenter of Nigeria’s security challenges”.
“Local Government Police Service Board should be established to oversee the recruitment, training, promotion, discipline and retirement of members of the Local Government Police while a unit in the Local Government should be saddled with providing technical and other administrative services.”.