By Prosper Okoye
Civil society groups in Nigeria have criticised a call by Senate President Godswill Akpabio for the return of police security personnel to members of the National Assembly and other senior public officials.
The criticism followed Mr Akpabio’s appeal to President Bola Tinubu to review his recent directive withdrawing police operatives attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs). The president said the move was intended to redeploy officers to tackle wider security challenges across the country.
Speaking during President Tinubu’s presentation of the 2026 budget at a joint sitting of the National Assembly in Abuja, Mr Akpabio warned that the decision had exposed federal lawmakers to security risks. He said some legislators feared they might be unable to return safely to their constituencies following the withdrawal of their police escorts.
“Some of the National Assembly members said I should let you know that they may not be able to go home today,” Mr Akpabio told the president, while appealing for a review of the policy.
However, a coalition of civil society groups operating under the Support For Civil Society Organisations Initiative rejected the request, describing it as a misplaced priority and inconsistent with global democratic practice.
“In other democracies, legislators do not deploy large numbers of armed police officers while the wider population remains vulnerable to attacks,” the group said in a statement.
The group’s leader, Chief ‘Aare’ Oluwasegun Oyedijo, said public office holders should not be insulated from the realities faced by ordinary citizens.
According to the coalition, leaders who deliver on their mandates should not fear the people they represent or require special security arrangements. It argued that good governance and accountability, rather than armed protection, are what earn public trust.
The group said the withdrawal of police escorts could help reduce the growing gap between elected officials and their constituents, encouraging closer engagement and more effective representation. It also criticised what it described as the excessive use of state security resources to protect politicians, saying this had contributed to a culture of privilege and abuse of power.
The coalition added that the Nigeria Police Force should prioritise the protection of communities and public safety, rather than serving as personal guards for political office holders.
“We are not calling for a breakdown of law and order,” the statement said. “Leaders who serve well do not need to hide behind armed security. This step will strengthen democracy and compel the delivery of real dividends of governance.”
President Tinubu ordered the withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs on 23 November, directing that those requiring armed protection should instead apply to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. The government says the policy is part of broader efforts to improve national security amid rising crime and limited policing resources.
During the same session, Mr Akpabio praised President Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying they were beginning to yield results despite the hardship experienced by many Nigerians. He assured the president of the National Assembly’s support for the reform agenda and the proposed 2026 budget.
