Abuja, Nigeria — 19 December 2025
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has made an urgent appeal to President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the directive withdrawing police orderlies from members of the National Assembly, warning that some lawmakers were concerned they “may not be able to go home today” without adequate protection.
Akpabio spoke on Friday during the presentation of the 2026 federal budget to a joint session of the National Assembly, stressing that the sudden withdrawal of police personnel attached to lawmakers had heightened security fears among legislators.
Security Directive and Backlash
On 23 November, President Tinubu ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) nationwide, as part of a strategy to redirect police resources to frontline duties amid escalating insecurity across Nigeria.
Under the order, Nigerians requiring protection were advised to seek security support from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) instead. The directive, confirmed by presidential aides and the Inspector-General of Police, affected more than 11,000 police personnel nationwide and is intended to bolster community policing and response capabilities.
But the policy has triggered sharp pushback from lawmakers who argue that its implementation has been uneven, with senior political figures and private individuals still seen moving with police details while some legislators suddenly found their protection withdrawn without warning.
Concerns on the Senate Floor
During Senate sessions last week, several senators protested the directive, describing it as “unrealistic and potentially reckless” given Nigeria’s current security environment. Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central said he awoke to discover his police orderly had been withdrawn, while others remained in service for influential figures outside the legislature.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin told colleagues that the leadership had discussed the matter and would submit a formal request to the presidency for exemptions or restoration of withdrawn officers, expressing confidence that President Tinubu would listen to lawmakers’ security concerns.
Calls for Clear Policy and Uniform Implementation
Critics within the National Assembly argue that the withdrawal must be implemented uniformly across all public officeholders, including the presidency, vice presidency, ministers and other high-profile figures — a move they say would remove perceptions of selective enforcement.
Some proponents of the withdrawal maintain that excessive reliance on police protection for VIPs has stressed the nation’s already overstretched security apparatus, and that reallocating the officers to core policing roles could improve public safety for ordinary Nigerians.
President Tinubu’s Position
President Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to the directive, emphasising the need to strengthen policing and ensure officers focus on combating rising crime. He instructed the Minister of Interior to coordinate with the police and NSCDC to address security gaps exposed by the policy shift.
As the debate continues, lawmakers and the presidency appear set for further negotiations on how best to balance security reforms with personal protection needs of public officials.
Abuja Network News
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