In a bold move aimed at curbing Nigeria’s rising insecurity, the Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly has urged the Federal Government to immediately consider the mass recruitment of unemployed graduates into the country’s security agencies. The call, which comes amid a spate of violent crimes and mounting concerns over national security, was made during a high-profile policy dialogue in Abuja.
Chairman of the Conference and Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, who delivered the keynote at the opening ceremony of the inaugural National Policy Dialogue on the Legislative Agenda of the 10th House of Representatives, described Nigeria’s current security challenges as alarming and requiring urgent, innovative solutions.
According to Ogundoyin, “Condemnation is not a strategy. It is not enough to condemn acts of terrorism, kidnapping, and banditry. We must back our words with legislative action that strengthens our security architecture through intelligence-driven reforms.” He argued that one of the smartest ways to address the twin problems of unemployment and insecurity is to channel the nation's idle youth population—particularly graduates—into structured security roles.
He emphasized that Nigeria is facing a manpower crisis in its security sector, and that tapping into the pool of educated but unemployed young people can fill the gap, while also bringing fresh energy and modern skills into national defense and intelligence operations.
The Speaker’s remarks set the tone for a wider conversation on the role of legislatures in national development, especially in shaping policy and providing the necessary legal backing for security interventions.
The dialogue, which brought together lawmakers, security experts, and policymakers, is seen as a critical platform for aligning legislative priorities with the immediate needs of the country. Observers say the suggestion to recruit unemployed graduates could serve as a win-win solution—reducing crime by removing idle hands from the streets, while simultaneously beefing up Nigeria’s overstretched security forces.
As insecurity continues to cast a long shadow over communities across the nation, pressure is mounting on the government to implement bold, people-centered strategies. The proposal by the Speakers Conference may well be a step in that direction.
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