Police Protection For Corps Members?
Guardian
LAUDABLE as the Federal Government’s resolve to protect corps members on National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) assignment is, its practical implementation is bound to be tasking. This is against the backdrop of the present state of the Nigerian Police as an inefficient and seemingly over-burdened organisation, in the face of a nationwide security crisis.
Yet the government’s resolve cannot be better timed, coming at a time when corps members appear to be easy targets of miscreants and common criminals across the country. We concede that unless government can guarantee the protection of corps members’ lives and property anywhere in the country, those canvassing a rethink of the NYSC programme cannot be discountenanced.
Probably to foreclose rising opposition to the scheme and to assure parents of government’s concern, the federal government reportedly directed that the Nigeria Police should provide 24 hours protection for all NYSC members serving in all parts of the country.
The Minister of Youth Development, Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi had explained in Osogbo at a public lecture that the directive is meant to ensure the safety of corps members. This is coming on the heels of recent attacks on serving corps members. Three corps members were killed in Jos, Plateau State during an outbreak of sectarian violence over the results of a local government election in Jos North. Protesters destroyed churches and mosques. Many innocent lives were lost. Also about two months ago, Grace Ushang, a female corps member, serving in Maiduguri was attacked, allegedly raped and killed by yet to be identified assailants.
The incident, along with several other less grievous but equally worrisome cases have caused public uproar and raised questions about the continued relevance of the NYSC scheme. Many parents are reluctant to accept the posting of their children to parts of the country that they consider problematic.
However, the Federal Government continues to insist that the scheme, on which it spends an average of N43 billion yearly to manage about 200,000 fresh graduates, has come to stay and that it would not be cancelled. The Minister of Youth Development adds that the scheme is in fact living up to expectations.
With the scheme expected to mobilise 300,000 members in the next three years, the question is: how well can the police carry out government’s directive to protect corps members round the clock? It is obviously not a practicable idea. Government officials should resist the temptation of saying something simply because they feel the urge to do so. We hope this is not an attempt to lure the public into a false sense of security.
Police resources are presently overtaxed as reflected in cases of unresolved murders, rising kidnapping and armed robbery. There is also a failure of Police Intelligence resulting in gross inefficiency. Morale is low among both officers and the rank and file, the police lack necessary equipment for combating crime; in addition, corruption is endemic within the organisation.
One way perhaps that the NYSC can enhance the security of corps members is to organise security briefings at the orientation camps, to educate and alert corps members appropriately about security challenges in their new environment. This exercise can also be organized as part of Community Development activities for corps members in the course of the service year. With such regular briefings, corps members would be well sensitised to take necessary precautions. The Police and the State Security Services should be part of this.
Ultimately, the challenge is that of guaranteeing the security of lives and property, a basic right that should be enjoyed by corps members and other citizens alike. Security agencies would have to be better equipped, their capacity for preventive intervention through a pro-active intelligence gathering approach, would have to be strengthened.
In the past, crises escalated and resulted in high death tolls because of the failure to respond, or to respond on time, to clear and recognisable danger signals. This is a major challenge that should be addressed.
As primary beneficiaries of the NYSC scheme and corps members’ expertise, state governments also have a role to play in ensuring the safety of corps members. In liaison with the Police, state governments should assume primary responsibility for corps members’ security.
The Police leadership should be concerned that the new charge upon their organisation is indicative of failure on their part, to protect lives and property. Yet, this is the basic constitutional duty of the police
December 7, 2009
Tags: Nigeria, NYSC, police, security Posted in: Guardian
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