Should security votes be scrapped?

Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), has advocated that security vote be phased out.
Rafsanjani claims that a whopping N241.8 billion is being spent yearly in the name of ‘Security Vote’ without proper audit or oversight.
KEHINDE OSASONA seeks the reaction of legal practitioners over the poser.
Equip Police, scrap security vote – B. O.
Aleke I subscribe to the position that security vote for public officials should be scrapped.
Reasons being that from inception, we have not seen the any significant difference from when there was no security vote and this period that security vote is available.
For me, it is just an avenue for public office holders to divert public fund for their personal needs.
For instance, the security apparatus of the state is there; the only thing that is missing is the welfare and maintenance.
I would rather suggest that there should even be no need for an organization like ICPC and EFCC so long that we have the Nigerian police.
If police would be taken proper care of; I mean wellequipped, with well-paid packages and all that, there would be no need for that security vote which is not being accounted for in the first place.
Create State Police, monitor security vote – Godfrey Adih I do not think that security vote should be scrapped because there was wisdom behind its conception by the legislatures.
I would rather advocate that necessary machinery be put in place towards ensuring that the money is channelled appropriately.
As it were, considering the security situation in the country, we cannot say that the money is being channelled properly, the more reasons we are having various security breaches all around the country today.
Also, I will subscribe to the idea of State Police for each state of the federation, which for me, would go a long way in checkmating security challenges in the country.
If we have states that have their own security outfit, (State Police), they can control their own arms and police their States against any external forces.
Divert security vote to other projects – Joel Alli My view is; If it is true that security vote is not being properly utilized by the public officials entrusted with the fund, then it should be scrapped and such money be diverted to other projects.
Reason being that the purpose of the fund would have been defeated if it is not meeting up with the original intent.
Instead, the money could be diverted to other projects that would have direct bearings on the populace well-being or the masses as the case may be.
I believe that the impact would be felt strongly than such money being wasted.
Remember, by law, security votes is not being accounted for; otherwise, the law would have take effect.
It is contentious, worrisome – Shaibu Otache Napoleon My reaction as to whether the contentious security vote should be retained or otherwise; my take is that in as much as I am not opposed to the approval of security vote per se, the utilization for me is worrisome.
Security votes have always been allegedly converted for personal use by state executives and even our past Presidents.
Another worry is that the law that provides for same is such that nobody can even make an inquiry as to how it is deployed or utilized.
I think the appropriate section of the constitution should be amended so as to give room to the member of the public to be able to make their governors and president accountable.
Gone are the days when security issues are considered sacrosanct and secretive.
Not again; security issue to a greater extent should be discussed in the open.
If say N10 million is accrued to your State in a month, you should be able to tell us what you used the money for.
The public, for instance, are not asking for the serial number of the AK 47 that you procured or the engine number of the armoured tank car that you bought with the money, but tell us how you are able to deploy that money and even the procedure of the spendings.
State, Federal executives should be accountable – Sunday Adole Scrapping the security vote for me is not the solution.
There should be a means to checkmate the implementation of the security vote if they cannot enact a law that the States and federal executives be accountable periodically how they utilize the fund as Chief Security Officers.
If you scrap it for instance, and there is any emergency, can they apply for supplementary budget to execute, or tackle such issues? The answer is no, they cannot.
They won’t meet up before the House approves.
So, the best option is to enact a law that such executives be accountable.
Elected officials often use it to sponsor thugs – Finmartins Eze My take on the security vote is that the governors, who, usually are the beneficiaries of the security vote do not use it for anything beneficial to the masses in the real sense of it.
I think it should be scrapped because it has been an avenue for them to enrich themselves and their relatives.
I do not also think that there is any law backing the security vote to the best of my knowledge.
They merely used it to sponsor their thugs and deploy the rest on illegal purposes.
So, in my own opinion, there would be no need for anyone to say that it is the withdrawal of security vote that allows insecurity to thrive in his domain.
Use legal means, scrap it – Anyanwu Eusebuis From my own perspective, security vote has a statutory provision, and it has the backing of the constitution.
So, it is not that politicians just agreed among themselves to access it.
However, I would say that allowing security vote for governors has cost Nigeria serious financial implication because they have over the years completely misused it and they have not apportioned it for appropriate usage.
I also think that legal means should be used by the National Assembly to scrap it.
In doing that, they should look at all the enabling laws.
As it were, it can’t be done via mere mobilization or protest, but the truth is; successive governments have misused the security vote as against using it to enhance security and protection of the citizenry.
Enact an enabling law – Paschal Oyibo I am not really in total support of security vote being scrapped.
I would rather advocate for accountability in its spending.
For instance, amount spent on security patrol vehicles, intelligence gathering and so on, should be stated.
But when we scrap it, how would they secure the states? An enabling law in this regard would be a welcome development.